87R8586 ANG-D
By: Wilson H.B. No. 2681
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to public school elective courses providing academic study
of the Bible offered to certain students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.011, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (f) and adding Subsection (g-1) to
read as follows:
(a) A school district may offer to students in grade six
[nine] or above:
(1) an elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old
Testament) and its impact and an elective course on the New
Testament and its impact; or
(2) an elective course that combines the courses
described by Subdivision (1).
(f) A teacher of a course offered under this section must
hold a certificate [minimum of a High School Composite
Certification] in language arts, social studies, or history that
qualifies the teacher to teach at the grade level at which the
course is offered with, where practical, a minor in religion or
biblical studies. A teacher selected to teach a course under this
section shall successfully complete staff development training
outlined in Section 21.459. A course under this section may [only]
be taught only by a teacher who has successfully completed training
under Section 21.459.
(g-1) A course offered under this section to students in
grade six, seven, or eight may be considered as a social studies
course for purposes of complying with the required curriculum under
Section 28.002.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
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, 2021.