By: Sanford H.B. No. 735
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to school districts, school district's employees, and
students recognition of Texas' historical celebrations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.920 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.920. CELEBRATIONS. (a) A school district,
employees of a school district, and students may educate students
about the history of traditional celebrations. School districts,
employees of a school district, and students are allowed to display
references or quote versus from religious texts which are
celebrated during time of historic and/or optional holidays
recognized by the Texas government in Government Code, Title 6.,
Chapter 662.
(b) School districts, district staff, and students are
allowed to display references or quotes from texts which celebrate
winter holidays recognized by the Texas government in Chapter 662,
Government Code and may offer traditional greetings regarding the
celebrations, including:
(1) "Merry Christmas";
(2) "Happy Hanukkah"; and
(3) "happy holidays."
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a school district
may display on school property scenes or symbols associated with
traditional winter celebrations, including a menorah or a Christmas
image such as a nativity scene or Christmas tree, if the display
includes a scene or symbol of:
(1) more than one religion; or
(2) one religion and at least one secular scene or
symbol.
(d) A display relating to a traditional winter celebration
may not include a message that encourages adherence to a particular
religious belief.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
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, 2017.