C.S.H.B. 575 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 575
By: Miller
Public Education
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Many Texas students graduate from public school with little knowledge of
the United States' founding and historical documents. Some feel this is
due to the fact that many educators are unsure about whether or not
certain texts are allowed in schools because of recent out-of-state court
decisions. C.S.H.B. 575 would encourage schools to teach students about
U.S. historical documents by explicitly allowing educators to read or
display certain historical texts in a school building. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution.   


ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 575 amends the Education Code to authorize an educator, in a
school building, to read or display the U.S. national motto, U.S. national
anthem, U.S. pledge of allegiance, preamble to the Texas Constitution,
Declaration of Independence, Mayflower Compact, writings or speeches of
the original signers of the United States Declaration of Independence or
presidents of the United States, decisions of the United States or Texas
Supreme Court, or any laws or resolutions passed by the United States
Congress or Texas Legislature. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.
   

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 575 modifies the original version by replacing founding fathers
with original signers  and replacing any legislation enacted or resolved
with laws or resolutions passed by the United States Congress or Texas
Legislature.