HBA-JEK H.B. 574 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 574
By: Green
Public Education
3/11/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution reflect
the principles and convictions upon which our nation was founded.  Many
individuals, however, are unfamiliar with the content and history of these
documents.  House Bill 574 requires each school district to include an
in-depth study of the Declaration of Independence and the constitution as
part of the United States history curriculum. 

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 574 amends the Education Code to require each school district to
include an in-depth study of the Declaration of Independence and the United
States Constitution in their complete, unedited form as part of the
required United States history curriculum. The bill requires the school
districts to focus on the preamble of the constitution, the Bill of Rights,
and the sentence in the Declaration of Independence beginning "We hold
these truths to be self-evident . . . ." 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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