Bill Text: TX HB308 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to a school district's recognition of and education regarding traditional winter celebrations.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 32-7)
Status: (Passed) 2013-06-14 - Effective immediately [HB308 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB308-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 308 |
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relating to a school district's recognition of and education | ||
regarding traditional winter 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. WINTER CELEBRATIONS. (a) A school district | ||
may educate students about the history of traditional winter | ||
celebrations, and allow students and district staff to offer | ||
traditional greetings regarding the celebrations, including: | ||
(1) "Merry Christmas"; | ||
(2) "Happy Hanukkah"; and | ||
(3) "happy holidays." | ||
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), 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. | ||
(c) 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 2013-2014 | ||
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. 308 was passed by the House on May 8, | ||
2013, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 2, 2 present, not | ||
voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 308 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
17, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
Date | ||
_____________________ | ||
Governor |