HBA-JEK H.B. 2070 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2070 By: Green Public Education 3/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Studying the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution educates students about the principles behind the founding of this country. House Bill 2070 establishes the last week in September of each school year as Teach Freedom Week, and requires school districts to include an in-depth study of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution during that week. 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 2070 amends the Education Code to require public schools to recognize the last full week of classes in September as Teach Freedom Week. The bill requires Teach Freedom Week to include between four and seven hours of appropriate instruction, as determined by the State Board of Education (board), in each social studies class. The bill requires the instruction to include an in-depth study of the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, in their historical context. The bill requires the board to select a textbook to assist in the instruction, and provides that a school district shall require its students in grade levels 3 through 12 to recite specific text from the Declaration of Independence at the beginning of each school day during Teach Freedom Week. 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.