25.0359.02000
Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Hoverson, Heilman, Nehring, Osowski, Schatz, VanWinkle, K. Anderson
Senators Paulson, Weston, Enget, Castaneda, Schaible
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 15-10 and a new section to
chapter 15.1-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to displays of the ten
commandments in state educational institutions and public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 15-10 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
and enacted as follows:
Ten commandments - Displays.
1.The state board of higher education shall display the ten commandments in each
classroom on the campus of each state educational institution under its control and
administration.
2.The display must be:
a.On a poster or framed document that is at least eleven inches [27.94
centimeters] in width and fourteen inches [35.56 centimeters] in length.
b.The central focus of the poster or framed document.
c.Printed in a large, easily readable font.
3.The text must read as follows:
The Ten Commandments
I AM the LORD thy God.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images.
Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the
Lord thy God giveth thee.
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HOUSE BILL NO. 1145
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24 Sixty-ninth
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Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor
his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.
4.The state board of higher education shall adopt rules to implement this section.
5.The state board of higher education and any state educational institution under its
control and administration may spend its funds or donated funds to purchase the
displays and may accept donated displays.
SECTION 2. A new section to chapter 15.1-09 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
and enacted as follows:
Ten commandments - Displays.
1.A board of a school district shall display the ten commandments in each classroom
and building on school grounds in the school district.
2.The display must be:
a.On a poster or framed document that is at least eleven inches [27.94
centimeters] in width and fourteen inches [35.56 centimeters] in length.
b.The central focus of the poster or framed document.
c.Printed in a large, easily readable font.
3.The text must read as follows:
The Ten Commandments
I AM the LORD thy God.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images.
Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the
Lord thy God giveth thee.
Thou shalt not kill.
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31 Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor
his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.
4.The state board of public school education shall adopt rules to implement this section.
5.A board of a school district may spend its funds or donated funds to purchase the
displays and may accept donated displays.
Page No. 3 25.0359.02000
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