Bill Text: TX HB735 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to school districts, school district's employees, and students recognition of Texas' historical celebrations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-20 - Referred to Public Education [HB735 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB735-Introduced.html
By: Sanford | H.B. No. 735 |
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relating to school districts, school district's employees, and | ||
students recognition of Texas' historical celebrations. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 29.920 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 29.920. CELEBRATIONS. (a) A school district, | ||
employees of a school district, and students may educate students | ||
about the history of traditional celebrations. School districts, | ||
employees of a school district, and students are allowed to display | ||
references or quote versus from religious texts which are | ||
celebrated during time of historic and/or optional holidays | ||
recognized by the Texas government in Government Code, Title 6., | ||
Chapter 662. | ||
(b) School districts, district staff, and students are | ||
allowed to display references or quotes from texts which celebrate | ||
winter holidays recognized by the Texas government in Chapter 662, | ||
Government Code and may offer traditional greetings regarding the | ||
celebrations, including: | ||
(1) "Merry Christmas"; | ||
(2) "Happy Hanukkah"; and | ||
(3) "happy holidays." | ||
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a school district | ||
may display on school property scenes or symbols associated with | ||
traditional winter celebrations, including a menorah or a Christmas | ||
image such as a nativity scene or Christmas tree, if the display | ||
includes a scene or symbol of: | ||
(1) more than one religion; or | ||
(2) one religion and at least one secular scene or | ||
symbol. | ||
(d) A display relating to a traditional winter celebration | ||
may not include a message that encourages adherence to a particular | ||
religious belief. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 | ||
school year. | ||
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, 2017. |