| 4 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 7 | | relating to the display of the national motto in public schools and |
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| 6 | 8 | | institutions of higher education. |
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| 7 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 8 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 1.004, Education Code, is amended to |
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| 9 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 10 | 12 | | Sec. 1.004. DISPLAY OF NATIONAL MOTTO. (a) A public |
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| 11 | 13 | | elementary or secondary school or an institution of higher |
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| 12 | 14 | | education as defined by Section 61.003 must [may] display in a |
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| 13 | 15 | | conspicuous place in each building of the school or institution a |
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| 14 | 16 | | durable poster or framed copy of the United States national motto, |
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| 15 | 17 | | "In God We Trust," if the poster or framed copy meets the |
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| 16 | 18 | | requirements of Subsection (b) and is: |
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| 17 | 19 | | (1) donated for display at the school or institution; |
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| 18 | 20 | | or |
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| 19 | 21 | | (2) purchased from private donations and made |
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| 20 | 22 | | available to the school or institution [in each classroom, |
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| 21 | 23 | | auditorium, and cafeteria]. |
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| 22 | 24 | | (b) A poster or framed copy of the national motto described |
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| 23 | 25 | | by Subsection (a): |
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| 24 | 26 | | (1) must contain a representation of the United States |
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| 25 | 27 | | flag centered under the national motto and a representation of the |
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| 26 | 28 | | state flag; and |
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| 27 | 29 | | (2) may not depict any words, images, or other |
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| 28 | 30 | | information other than the representations listed in Subdivision |
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| 29 | 31 | | (1). |
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| 30 | 32 | | (c) A public elementary or secondary school and an |
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| 31 | 33 | | institution of higher education may accept and use private |
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| 32 | 34 | | donations for the purposes of Subsection (a). |
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| 33 | 35 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 34 | 36 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 35 | 37 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 36 | 38 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 37 | 39 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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| 38 | | - | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 39 | | - | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 40 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 797 passed the Senate on |
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| 41 | | - | April 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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| 42 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 43 | | - | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 44 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 797 passed the House on |
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| 45 | | - | May 25, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 106, Nays 35, four |
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| 46 | | - | present not voting. |
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| 47 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 48 | | - | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 49 | | - | Approved: |
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| 50 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 51 | | - | Date |
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| 52 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 53 | | - | Governor |
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