By: Wilson, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Buckingham) H.B. No. 2681
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 17, 2021;
  May 17, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Education; May 24, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0;
  May 24, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2681 By:  Powell
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to public school elective courses providing academic study
  of the Bible offered to certain students.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 28.011(a) and (f), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A school district may offer to students in grade six
  [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).
         (f)  A teacher of a course offered under this section must
  hold a certificate [minimum of a High School Composite
  Certification] in language arts, social studies, or history that
  qualifies the teacher to teach at the grade level at which the
  course is offered with, where practical, a minor in religion or
  biblical studies. A teacher selected to teach a course under this
  section shall successfully complete staff development training
  outlined in Section 21.459. A course under this section may [only]
  be taught only by a teacher who has successfully completed training
  under Section 21.459.
         SECTION 2.  The State Board of Education is required to
  implement Sections 28.011(a) and (f), Education Code, as amended by
  this Act, only if the legislature appropriates money specifically
  for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money
  specifically for that purpose, the State Board of Education may,
  but is not required to, implement Sections 28.011(a) and (f),
  Education Code, as amended by this Act, using other appropriations
  available for the purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2021.
 
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