HBA-MPM, JEK H.B. 1776 77(R)     BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1776
By: Green
Public Education
3/12/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Declaration of Independence reflects the principles and convictions
upon which the United States was founded.  Many individuals, however, are
not familiar with the content and history of this document.  House Bill
1776 requires the daily recitation of part of the Declaration of
Independence by public school students. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1776 amends the Education Code to require a school district's
students at the beginning of each school day to recite text from the
Declaration of Independence of the United States beginning with the phrase,
"We hold these Truths to be self-evident; that all Men are created equal .
. . ."   

The bill requires the State Board of Education (board) to establish an
appropriate curriculum that includes the meaning and importance of this
text in its 18th Century context.  The bill requires the board to determine
the appropriate means of implementing the provisions of the bill. 

These provisions do not apply to any pupil who has conscientious scruples
against the recitation or who is the child of an unaccredited
representative of a foreign government to whom the United States government
extends diplomatic immunity.  The bill requires a school district to excuse
a student from the recitation on written request from the student's parent
or guardian.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. This Act applies beginning with the
2001-2002 school year.