88R965 KJE-D     By: Campbell S.B. No. 164       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the display of the national motto and the founding   documents of the United States in public schools and the inclusion   of an elective course on the founding principles of the United   States in the curriculum for public high school students.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 1.004, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 1.004.  DISPLAY OF NATIONAL MOTTO AND FOUNDING   DOCUMENTS.  (a)  A public elementary or secondary school [or an   institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003] must   display in a conspicuous place in each building of the school [or   institution] a durable poster or framed copy of the United States   national motto, "In God We Trust," and the founding documents of the   United States if the poster or framed copy meets the requirements of   Subsection (b) and is:                (1)  donated for display at the school [or   institution]; or                (2)  purchased from private donations and made   available to the school [or institution].          (a-1)  In this section, "founding documents of the United   States" means:                (1)  the United States Declaration of Independence;                (2)  the United States Constitution; and                (3)  Essays 10 and 57 of the Federalist Papers.          (b)  A poster or framed copy [of the national motto]   described by Subsection (a):                (1)  must contain:                      (A)  the national motto, a representation of the   United States flag centered under the national motto, and a   representation of the state flag;                      (B)  one or more of the founding documents of the   United States; or                      (C)  both the items described by Paragraph (A) and   one or more items described by Paragraph (B); and                (2)  may not depict any words, images, or other   information other than the items [representations] listed in   Subdivision (1).          (c)  A public elementary or secondary school [and an   institution of higher education] may accept and use private   donations for the purposes of Subsection (a).          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 28.0111 to read as follows:          Sec. 28.0111.  FOUNDING PRINCIPLES ELECTIVE. (a)  Each   school district and open-enrollment charter school that offers a   high school program shall provide an elective course on the   founding principles of the United States that meets the   requirements for a one-half elective credit under Section 28.025.          (b)  The course must focus on the principles underlying the   United States form of government, the Declaration of Independence,   the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and the   writings of the founding fathers of the United States.          SECTION 3.  Section 28.0111, Education Code, as added by   this Act, applies beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.          SECTION 4.  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, 2023.