By: Farney, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Schwertner)	H.B. No. 773
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 29, 2013;
	April 29, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
	Education; May 10, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote:
	Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 10, 2013, sent to printer.)

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to a requirement that students at an open-enrollment
	charter school recite the pledges of allegiance to the United
	States flag and the state flag.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Sections 25.082(b), (c), and (d), Education
	Code, are amended 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.
	(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.  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.
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