HBA-JEK H.B. 2070 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2070
By: Green
Public Education
3/12/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Studying the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution
educates students about the principles behind the founding of this country.
House Bill 2070 establishes the last week in September of each school year
as Teach Freedom Week, and requires school districts to include an in-depth
study of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution
during that week. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2070 amends the Education Code to require public schools to
recognize the last full week of classes in September  as Teach Freedom
Week.  The bill requires Teach Freedom Week to include between four and
seven hours of appropriate instruction, as determined by the State Board of
Education (board), in each social studies class.  The bill requires the
instruction to include an in-depth study of the intent, meaning, and
importance of the Declaration of Independence and the United States
Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, in their historical context.
The bill requires the board to select a textbook to assist in the
instruction, and provides that a school district shall require its students
in grade levels 3 through 12 to recite specific text from the Declaration
of Independence at the beginning of each school day during Teach Freedom
Week. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. This Act applies beginning with the
2001-2002 school year.