By Delisi H.B. No. 911 77R4530 CAS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to character education programs in public schools. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Section 29.903 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 29.903. CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) Each school 1-7 district is encouraged to implement in district schools a 1-8 comprehensive character education program. 1-9 (b) A character education program under this section must: 1-10 (1) be secular; 1-11 (2) stress positive character traits such as good 1-12 citizenship, honesty, responsibility, respect, patience, and 1-13 initiative; 1-14 (3) be taught for the entire school year; 1-15 (4) provide at least one hour of instruction each 1-16 week; and 1-17 (5) provide a curriculum that includes: 1-18 (A) definitions of positive character traits; 1-19 (B) examples of positive character traits; 1-20 (C) application of positive character traits in 1-21 the classroom through activities and projects; and 1-22 (D) praise to commend students who demonstrate 1-23 positive character traits. 1-24 (c) A district that implements a character education program 2-1 under this section shall, to the greatest extent practicable, 2-2 incorporate the positive character traits emphasized in the program 2-3 into the district's regular curriculum. 2-4 (d) A district may offer the character education program at 2-5 one or more grade levels. 2-6 SECTION 2. Section 39.092(a), Education Code, is amended to 2-7 read as follows: 2-8 (a) The governor may present a financial award to the 2-9 schools or districts that the commissioner determines have 2-10 demonstrated the highest levels of sustained success or the 2-11 greatest improvement in achieving the education goals or to the 2-12 districts that have implemented a comprehensive character education 2-13 program that satisfies the requirements prescribed by Section 2-14 29.903. For each student in average daily attendance, each of 2-15 those schools or districts is entitled to an amount set for the 2-16 award for which the school or district is selected by the 2-17 commissioner, subject to any limitation set by the commissioner on 2-18 the total amount that may be awarded to a school or district. 2-19 SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 2-20 school year. 2-21 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-22 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-23 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-24 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-25 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.