Amend HB 1287 by striking all below the enacting clause and
substituting the following:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.011. ELECTIVE COURSES ON THE BIBLE'S HEBREW
SCRIPTURES (OLD TESTAMENT) AND NEW TESTAMENT AND THEIR IMPACT ON
THE HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION. (a) A school
district shall offer to students in grade nine or above:
(1) an elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old
Testament) and its impact and an elective course on the New
Testament and its impact; or
(2) an elective course that combines the courses
described by Subdivision (1).
(b) The purpose of a course under this section is to:
(1) teach students knowledge of biblical content,
characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to
understanding contemporary society and culture, including
literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy; and
(2) familiarize students with, as applicable:
(A) the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament;
(B) the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament;
(C) the literary style and structure of the
Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament; and
(D) the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament on law, history, government, literature, art, music,
customs, morals, values, and culture.
(c) A student may not be required to use a specific
translation as the sole text of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament and may use as the basic textbook a different translation
of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament from that chosen by the
board of trustees of the student's school district or the student's
teacher.
(d) A course offered under this section shall follow
applicable law and all federal and state guidelines in maintaining
religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious
views, traditions, and perspectives of students in their school
district. A course under this section shall not endorse, favor, or
promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular
religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective. Nothing in
this statute is intended to violate any provision of the United
States Constitution or federal law, the Texas Constitution or any
state law, or any rules or guidelines provided by the United States
Department of Education or the Texas Education Agency.
(e) A teacher of a course offered under this section must
hold a minimum of a High School Composite Certification in language
arts, social studies, or history with, where practical, a minor in
religion or biblical studies. A teacher selected to teach a course
under this section shall successfully complete appropriate staff
development training. A course under this section may only be
taught by a teacher who has successfully completed training in
connection with the Bible course chosen by the school district.
Training in connection with the Bible course chosen shall be
submitted to the Texas Attorney General for approval to ensure that
applicable constitutional standards are met.
(f) For the purpose of a student earning credit for high
school graduation, a school district shall grant one-half academic
elective credit for satisfactory completion of a course on the
Hebrew Scriptures, one-half academic elective credit for
satisfactory completion of a course on the New Testament, and
one-half academic elective credit for satisfactory completion of a
combined course on both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New
Testament. This subsection applies only to a course that is taught
in strict compliance with this section.
(g) If, for a particular semester, fewer than 20 students at
a school district campus register to enroll in a course required by
this section, the district is not required to offer the course at
that campus for that semester.
(h) This section does not prohibit the board of trustees of
a school district from offering an elective course based on the
books of a religion other than Christianity. In determining whether
to offer such a course, the board may consider various factors,
including student and parent demand for such a course and the impact
such books have had on history and culture.
(i) This section does not prohibit a school district from
offering a course, other than the course authorized by this
section, in the academic study of the Hebrew Scriptures, the New
Testament, or both for local credit or for state elective credit
towards high school graduation.
SECTION 2. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through
grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:
(1) a foundation curriculum that includes:
(A) English language arts;
(B) mathematics;
(C) science; and
(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United
States, and world history, government, and geography; and
(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes:
(A) to the extent possible, languages other than
English;
(B) health, with emphasis on the importance of
proper nutrition and exercise;
(C) physical education;
(D) fine arts;
(E) economics, with emphasis on the free
enterprise system and its benefits;
(F) career and technology education; [and]
(G) technology applications; and
(H) religious literature, including the Hebrew
Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on
history and literature.
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, 2007.