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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to inclusion of Bible instruction in the required English |
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language arts curriculum for public school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (x) and (y) to read as follows: |
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(x) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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English language arts curriculum under Subsection (a)(1)(A), the |
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State Board of Education shall adopt essential knowledge and skills |
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that include instruction on the content, characters, poetry, and |
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narratives of the Bible that are prerequisites to understanding |
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United States and Texas history and contemporary society and |
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culture. In adopting essential knowledge and skills under this |
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subsection, the board: |
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(1) may not require a student to use a specific |
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translation as the sole text of the Bible and must allow the student |
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to use a different translation from that chosen by the board of |
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trustees of the student's school district or the student's teacher; |
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and |
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(2) shall ensure: |
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(A) all applicable federal and state guidelines |
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regarding maintaining religious neutrality and accommodating the |
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diverse religious views, traditions, and perspectives of students |
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in their school district are followed; and |
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(B) a particular religion, nonreligious faith, |
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or religious perspective is not endorsed, favored, promoted, |
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disfavored, or shown hostility. |
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(y) Nothing in Subsection (x) is intended to violate any |
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provision of the United States Constitution, federal law, the Texas |
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Constitution, or any state law. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |