By Green H.B. No. 574 77R3305 BDH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the study of the Declaration of Independence and the 1-3 United States Constitution in public schools. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Subsection (l) to read as follows: 1-7 (l) To educate students about the sacrifices made for 1-8 freedom in the founding of this country and the values on which 1-9 this country was founded, the teaching of United States history 1-10 shall include an in-depth study of the Declaration of Independence 1-11 and the United States Constitution in their complete, unedited 1-12 form. The study of the Declaration of Independence shall focus on 1-13 the following sentence: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, 1-14 that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their 1-15 Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, 1-16 Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure these Rights, 1-17 Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers 1-18 from the Consent of the Governed." The study of the United States 1-19 Constitution shall focus on the preamble to that document and the 1-20 Bill of Rights. 1-21 SECTION 2. (a) This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 1-22 school year. 1-23 (b) This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote 1-24 of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided 2-1 by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does 2-2 not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes 2-3 effect September 1, 2001.