BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 307

By: Flynn

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls to protect public school teachers who choose to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms. H.B. 307 seeks to provide this protection by prohibiting the board of trustees of an independent school district from prohibiting the posting of a copy of the Ten Commandments in a prominent location in a district classroom.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 307 amends the Education Code to prohibit the board of trustees of an independent school district from prohibiting the posting of a copy of the Ten Commandments in a prominent location in a district classroom. The bill applies beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.