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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 1.0041 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1.0041. DISPLAY OF TEN COMMANDMENTS. (a) A public |
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elementary or secondary school shall display in a conspicuous place |
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in each classroom of the school a durable poster or framed copy of |
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the Ten Commandments that meets the requirements of Subsection (b). |
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(b) A poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments |
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described by Subsection (a) must: |
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(1) include the text of the Ten Commandments as |
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provided by Subsection (c) in a size and typeface that is legible to |
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a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom in which |
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the poster or framed copy is displayed; and |
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(2) be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall. |
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(c) The text of the poster or framed copy of the Ten |
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Commandments described by Subsection (a) must read as follows: |
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"The Ten Commandments |
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I AM the LORD thy God. |
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Thou shalt have no other gods before me. |
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Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images. |
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Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain. |
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Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. |
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Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the |
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land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. |
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Thou shalt not kill. |
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Thou shalt not commit adultery. |
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Thou shalt not steal. |
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Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. |
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Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. |
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Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor |
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his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy |
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neighbor's." |
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(d) A public elementary or secondary school in which each |
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classroom does not include a poster or framed copy of the Ten |
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Commandments as required by Subsection (a) must: |
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(1) accept any offer of a privately donated poster or |
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framed copy of the Ten Commandments provided that the poster or |
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copy: |
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(A) meets the requirements of Subsection (b); and |
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(B) does not contain any additional content; and |
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(2) display the poster or framed copy as specified in |
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Subsection (a). |
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(e) If a public elementary or secondary school has a poster |
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or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in each classroom that does |
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not meet the requirements of Subsection (b), the school may replace |
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the posters or copies with posters or copies that meet the |
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requirements of Subsection (b) using public funds or by accepting a |
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private donation. |
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(f) A public elementary or secondary school must offer a |
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poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments described by |
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Subsection (a) in the school's possession that is not needed for |
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display in a classroom as a donation to another public elementary or |
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secondary school. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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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, 2023. |