HLS 21RS-670 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 352
BY REPRESENTATIVES HODGES AND EDMONSTON
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CURRICULA: Provides relative to required instruction in American history and civics in
public schools
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:265, to enact R.S. 17:274.1(E), and to repeal R.S. 17:268,
3 relative to required instruction in public schools; to require public school governing
4 authorities to provide instruction on certain aspects of American history and civics;
5 and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:265 is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:274.1(E) is
8hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §265. The Founding Principles of the United States of America; required instruction
10 A.(1) The governing authority of each public school that offers courses in
11 American history and civics as prerequisites to graduation shall integrate into such
12 courses instruction regarding the Founding Principles of the United States of
13 America.
14 B. (2) Such instruction shall include but need not be limited to providing
15 students with information on the following:
16 (1) (a) The Creator-endowed unalienable rights of the people.
17 (2) (b) Structure of government and separation of powers with checks and
18 balances.
19 (3) (c) Frequent and free elections in a representative government.
20 (4) (d) Rule of law.
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1 (5) (e) Equal justice under the law.
2 (6) (f) Private property rights.
3 (7) (g) Federalism.
4 (8) (h) Due process.
5 (9) (i) Individual rights as set forth in the Bill of Rights.
6 (10) (j) Individual responsibility.
7 (k) The Declaration of Independence.
8 (l) The Constitution of the United States.
9 (m) The Federalist Papers.
10 (n) The Gettysburg Address.
11 (o) National sovereignty.
12 (p) American exceptionalism.
13 (q) Globalism and the United Nations.
14 (r) Immigration policy.
15 B. Each public school governing authority shall provide age- and grade-
16 appropriate instruction in civics, including but not limited to the founding principles
17 enumerated in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section, in grades kindergarten through eight.
18 Such instruction may be incorporated into an existing course.
19 C. Textbooks and instructional materials used in the instruction required by
20 this Section shall accurately reflect the contributions and achievements of ordinary
21 Americans and promote an understanding of the history and values of the people of
22 the United States and Louisiana, including the free enterprise system, the benefits of
23 capitalism, private property, constitutional liberties, the value of a constitutional
24 republic, and traditional standards of moral values.
25 * * *
26 §274.1. Civics and Free Enterprise; required; exceptions
27 * * *
28 E. Textbooks and instructional materials used in the instruction required by
29 this Section shall accurately reflect the contributions and achievements of ordinary
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1 Americans and promote an understanding of the history and values of the people of
2 the United States and Louisiana, including the free enterprise system, the benefits of
3 capitalism, private property, constitutional liberties, the value of a constitutional
4 republic, and traditional standards of moral values.
5 Section 2. R.S. 17:268 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
6 Section 3. The Legislature of Louisiana finds that:
7 (1) True civics education is not political itself, but rather preparation for and
8prerequisite to mature political life.
9 (2) Respect for the liberties of students and teachers, the views of a politically
10diverse citizenry, and the tradition of institutional neutrality flow from true civics education.
11 (3) Political activism of one point of view over another has no place in formal
12education, which is intended to teach critical thinking skills to students, not to indoctrinate
13students to a particular political view.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 352 Original 2021 Regular Session Hodges
Abstract: Requires further instruction on the nation's founding principles in required
American history and civics courses in public schools.
Present law requires the governing authority of each public school offering American history
and civics as prerequisites to graduation to include specified information regarding the
founding principles of the U.S. in such courses. Proposed law retains present law and adds
the following to the list of required information in such courses:
(1)The Declaration of Independence.
(2)The Constitution of the United States.
(3)The Federalist Papers.
(4)The Gettysburg Address.
(5)National sovereignty.
(6)American exceptionalism.
(7)Globalism and the United Nations.
(8)Immigration policy.
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HB NO. 352
Proposed law requires that information on the founding principles of the U.S. be taught in
grades kindergarten through eight.
Present law requires that textbooks adopted for use in public schools promote an
understanding of the history and values of the people of the U.S. and La.
Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:265; Adds R.S. 17:274.1(E); Repeals R.S. 17:268)
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