Bill Text: TX HB773 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the recitation of the pledges of allegiance to and display of the United States and state flags at and the observation of a moment of silence at open-enrollment charter schools and other public schools.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 71-9)

Status: (Passed) 2013-06-14 - Effective immediately [HB773 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB773-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 773
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the recitation of the pledges of allegiance to and
  display of the United States and state flags at and the observation
  of a moment of silence at open-enrollment charter schools and other
  public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.082, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection (b-1)
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The board of trustees of each school district and the
  governing board of each open-enrollment charter school shall
  require students, once during each school day at each campus
  [school in the district], to recite:
               (1)  the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag
  in accordance with 4 U.S.C. Section 4[, and its subsequent
  amendments]; and
               (2)  the pledge of allegiance to the state flag in
  accordance with Subchapter C, Chapter 3100, Government Code.
         (b-1)  The board of trustees of each school district and the
  governing board of each open-enrollment charter school shall
  require that the United States and Texas flags be prominently
  displayed in accordance with 4 U.S.C. Sections 5-10 and Chapter
  3100, Government Code, in each campus classroom to which a student
  is assigned at the time the pledges of allegiance to those flags are
  recited.  A district or school is not required to spend federal,
  state, or local district or school funds to acquire flags required
  under this subsection.  A district or school may raise money or
  accept gifts, grants, and donations to acquire flags required under
  this subsection.
         (c)  On written request from a student's parent or guardian,
  a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall excuse
  the student from reciting a pledge of allegiance under Subsection
  (b).
         (d)  The board of trustees of each school district and the
  governing board of each open-enrollment charter school shall
  provide for the observance of one minute of silence at each campus 
  [school in the district] following the recitation of the pledges of
  allegiance to the United States and Texas flags under Subsection
  (b). During the one-minute period, each student may, as the student
  chooses, reflect, pray, meditate, or engage in any other silent
  activity that is not likely to interfere with or distract another
  student. Each teacher or other school employee in charge of
  students during that period shall ensure that each of those
  students remains silent and does not act in a manner that is likely
  to interfere with or distract another student.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  Sections 25.082(b), (c), and (d), Education
  Code, as amended by this Act, apply beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         (b)  Section 25.082(b-1), Education Code, as added by this
  Act, applies beginning with the 2016-2017 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, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 773 was passed by the House on April
  26, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 1, 2 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 773 on May 20, 2013, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
  on H.B. No. 773 on May 26, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 140,
  Nays 2, 2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 773 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 16, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays
  0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
  that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
  773 on May 26, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor       
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