78R92 CAS-D

By:  Griggs                                                       H.B. No. 166



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a virtues education program in public schools.                    
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 29.909 to read as follows:
	Sec. 29.909.  VIRTUES EDUCATION PROGRAM.  (a)  The 
commissioner shall develop or adopt a virtues education program.
	(b)  The virtues education program must:                                
		(1)  include age-appropriate curricula and educational 
materials;    
		(2)  be structured so that it can be provided to 
students each school year beginning in kindergarten and continuing 
through 12th grade; and
		(3)  include consideration of the virtues of 
attentiveness, availability, citizenship, compassion, confidence, 
contentment, courage, dependability, diligence, discretion, 
efficiency, encouragement, enthusiasm, fairness, faith, 
forgiveness, friendliness, generosity, gentleness, gratitude, 
honesty, humility, initiative, joy, kindness, obedience, optimism, 
patience, peace, perseverance, purity, respect, responsibility, 
reverence, self-control, thoughtfulness, and wisdom.
	(c)  The commissioner by rule shall establish the minimum 
amount of time during the school year that a school district must 
provide virtues education program instruction for the district to 
be eligible for funding under Subsection (d).
	(d)  A school district may provide virtues education program 
instruction under this section to students in one or more grade 
levels at one or more schools in the district. For each student in 
attendance in the program for at least 90 percent of the minimum 
amount of time established under Subsection (c), the district is 
entitled to an annual allotment of $1.
	SECTION 2.  The commissioner shall develop or adopt a 
virtues education program as provided by Section 29.909, Education 
Code, as added by this Act, not later than March 1, 2005.
	SECTION 3.   This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.