Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 11
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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 4-20.5-21-4.
Synopsis: Display of historical documents. Provides that a document
of educational and historical significance with acknowledged religious
history (document) may be displayed on property owned by the state.
Provides that a display of a document must be accompanied by a
statement providing its context in American history. Provides that a
document may only be displayed if the document is: (1) donated; (2)
purchased with funds made available through voluntary contributions
to the Indiana department of administration (department); or (3)
reprinted from a document donated or purchased with contributions to
the department. Requires, upon request, the department to provide
certain documents to a state office, clerk of court, judge, or legislative
body.
Effective: July 1, 2022.
Kruse
January 4, 2022, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
2022 IN 11—LS 6104/DI 110 Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 122nd General Assembly (2022)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2021 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 11
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
offices and administration.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 4-20.5-21-4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2022]: Sec. 4. (a) Subject to subsection (c), a document of
4 educational and historical significance with acknowledged religious
5 history may be displayed on property owned by the state, including
6 the following:
7 (1) The Mayflower Compact, written and adopted in 1620.
8 (2) The Declaration of Independence, adopted by the
9 Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
10 (3) Articles I through VI of the Northwest Ordinance, enacted
11 by the Confederation Congress on July 13, 1787.
12 (4) Washington's Farewell Address, published September 19,
13 1796.
14 (b) A display of a document under subsection (a) must be
15 accompanied by a document entitled "Educational Documents for
16 Acknowledging America's Religious History" that reads as follows:
17 "Many historical documents pivotal to American law,
2022 IN 11—LS 6104/DI 110 2
1 constitutionalism, and political theory have deep roots in
2 religion. Examples include the Mayflower Compact, the
3 Declaration of Independence, the Northwest Ordinance, and
4 Washington's Farewell Address, which collectively express
5 the American ideals of liberty, equality, personal
6 responsibility, and the rule of law. The purpose of this display
7 is to help the general public understand the role that religion
8 has played in the legal history of the United States and
9 Indiana.".
10 (c) A document may be displayed under subsection (a) only if
11 the document is:
12 (1) donated;
13 (2) purchased with funds made available through voluntary
14 contributions to the department; or
15 (3) reprinted from a document donated or purchased as
16 described in subdivisions (1) and (2).
17 (d) Subject to the availability of documents, funds, and
18 reprinted documents as provided under subsection (c), the
19 department shall, upon the request of a:
20 (1) state office (as defined in IC 3-5-2-48);
21 (2) clerk of court;
22 (3) judge; or
23 (4) legislative body (as defined in IC 36-1-2-9);
24 prepare and distribute to the state office, clerk of court, judge, or
25 legislative body a copy of a document listed in subsection (a)(1)
26 through (a)(4) for framing and display.
27 (e) The documents displayed under this section may be
28 displayed in a public location with other historical documents.
2022 IN 11—LS 6104/DI 110