By West                                                H.B. No. 127
         77R1438 SGA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to recitation of the Declaration of Independence by public
 1-3     school students.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.   Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 25.0821 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 25.0821.  RECITATION OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
 1-8     (a)  A school district shall require students to recite the text
 1-9     quoted below from the Declaration of Independence of the United
1-10     States at the beginning of each school day:
1-11           WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men
1-12           are created equal, that they are endowed by their
1-13           Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
1-14           these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of
1-15           Happiness--That to secure these Rights, Governments are
1-16           instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from
1-17           the Consent of the Governed....
1-18           (b)  On written request from a student's parent or guardian,
1-19     a school district shall excuse the student from reciting the
1-20     Declaration of Independence.
1-21           SECTION 2.   This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
1-22     school year.
1-23           SECTION 3.   This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-24     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-1     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-2     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-3     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.