By Christian                                          H.B. No. 3565
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to emphasizing character and civic values in public
 1-3     schools.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 29.903 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 29.203.  CHARACTER AND CIVIC VALUES INITIATIVE. (a)
 1-8     Promoting and instilling through our public schools the core
 1-9     character and civic values that all Texans can unite behind will
1-10     strengthen our communities and build great leaders for our future.
1-11     The Lone Star Kids of Character Initiative, the Building Good
1-12     Citizens for Texas, or Character First programs shall be the basis
1-13     for the development of character and civic values education in our
1-14     public schools.
1-15           (b)  Each school district will develop and implement a
1-16     character and civic values initiative for use in each primary and
1-17     secondary school.  In developing and administering the initiative,
1-18     the district shall integrate the Lone Star Kids of Character
1-19     Initiative, the Building Good Citizens for Texas, or Character
1-20     First guidelines into the district's regular curricula.
1-21           (c)  A character and civic values initiative under this
1-22     section must emphasize the following essential character and civic
1-23     values:
 2-1                 (1)  trustworthiness;
 2-2                 (2)  respect;
 2-3                 (3)  responsibility;
 2-4                 (4)  fairness;
 2-5                 (5)  caring; and
 2-6                 (6)  citizenship.
 2-7           (g)  Any school district may apply to the agency for
 2-8     available funding for a character and civic values initiative.  In
 2-9     any school year, the commissioner may not provide funding under
2-10     this section unless the commissioner determines that the total
2-11     amount of state funds appropriated for purposes of the Foundation
2-12     School Program for the school year exceeds the amount of state
2-13     funds distributed to schools.
2-14           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately and applies
2-15     beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.