78R54 CAS-D

By:  Homer                                                        H.B. No. 167



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the observance of one minute of silence during the 
school day in public schools.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 25.901, Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	Sec. 25.901.  EXERCISE OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PRAY;
OBSERVANCE OF ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE. (a)  A public school student 
has an absolute right to individually, voluntarily, and silently 
pray or meditate in school in a manner that does not disrupt the 
instructional or other activities of the school.  Except as 
provided by Subsection (b), a [A] person may not require, 
encourage, or coerce a student to engage in or refrain from such 
prayer or meditation during any school activity.
	(b)  The board of trustees of each school district shall 
provide for the observance of one minute of silence during each 
school day at each school in the district.  During that one-minute 
period, each student may, as the student chooses, pray, meditate, 
or engage in any other silent activity that is not likely to 
interfere with or distract another student.  Each teacher or other 
school employee in charge of students during that period shall 
ensure that each of those students remains seated and silent and 
does not act in a manner that is likely to interfere with or 
distract another student.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies with the beginning of the 
2003-2004 school year.
	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.