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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 1501

By: Raymond

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, a moment of silence is observed in Texas school classrooms at the beginning of each school day, yet there is no special acknowledgment that sets September 11 apart from other days. C.S.H.B. 1501 seeks to provide for the commemoration of the events of September 11, 2001, in Texas schools.

 

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. 1501 amends the Education Code to require each public elementary or secondary school, in commemoration of the events of September 11, 2001, in each year that date falls on a regular school day, to provide for the observance of one minute of silence at the beginning of the first class period of that day. The bill requires a class instructor, immediately before the period of observance, to make a statement of reference to the memory of individuals who died on September 11, 2001. The bill authorizes the period of observance to be held in conjunction with the minute of silence required following the recitation of the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags. The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 1501 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Chapter 1, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 1.006 to read as follows:

Sec. 1.006.  MINUTE OF SILENCE TO COMMEMORATE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.  (a)  To commemorate the events of September 11, 2001, in each year that date falls on a regular school day, each public elementary or secondary school, or institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, shall provide for the observance of one minute of silence at the beginning of the first class period of that day.

(b)  Immediately before the period of observance required by this section, the class instructor shall make a statement of reference to the memory of individuals who died on September 11, 2001.

(c)  The period of observance required by this section may be held in conjunction with the minute of silence required by Section 25.082.

 

SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 25.0821 to read as follows:

Sec. 25.0821.  MINUTE OF SILENCE TO COMMEMORATE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.  (a)  To commemorate the events of September 11, 2001, in each year that date falls on a regular school day, each public elementary or secondary school shall provide for the observance of one minute of silence at the beginning of the first class period of that day.

 

 

(b)  Immediately before the period of observance required by this section, the class instructor shall make a statement of reference to the memory of individuals who died on September 11, 2001.

(c)  The period of observance required by this section may be held in conjunction with the minute of silence required by Section 25.082.

 

SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year.

 

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.

 

 

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, 2013.

 

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.