HB1249: HB1249 Education; require public elementary and secondary schools to display the Bill of Rights in multiple locations

26 LC 60 0186 House Bill 1249 By: Representative Santos of the 117th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 19A of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to American history recognition and significant documents, so as to require public2 elementary and secondary schools in this state to display the B ill of Rights in multiple3 locations; to provide for specifications for such displays; to provide for rules and regulations;4 to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and5 for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Article 19A of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to9 American history recognition and significant documents, is amen ded by revising Code10 Section 20-2-1021, relating to display of historically significant documents, as follows:11 "20-2-1021.12 (a) To increase student understanding of, and familiarity with , American historical13 documents, public schools may display historically important excerpts from, or copies of,14 those documents in school classrooms and common areas as appropriate. Local boards of15 education and charter schools are strongly encouraged to allow and may encourage any16 H. B. 1249 - 1 - 26 LC 60 0186 public school teacher or administrator to read or post in a pub lic school building,17 classroom, or event excerpts or portions of writings, documents , records, or images that18 reflect the history of the United States, including, but not limited to:19 (1) The Preamble to the Georgia Constitution;20 (2) The Declaration of Independence;21 (3) The United States Constitution, with emphasis on the 13th, 14th, and 15th Thirteenth,22 Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments;23 (4) The Bill of Rights;24 (5) The Mayflower Compact;25 (6) The national motto;26 (7) The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag;27 (7.1) The Pledge of Allegiance to the Georgia flag;28 (8) The National Anthem;29 (9) The writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations of the Founding Fathers and30 Presidents of the United States;31 (9.1) The Emancipation Proclamation;32 (9.2) The Gettysburg Address;33 (10) Decisions of the United States Supreme Court; and34 (11) Acts of the Congress of the United States, including the published text of the35 Congressional Record.36 (b)(1) No later than January 1, 2027, each public elementary and secondary school in this37 state shall display in each of the three locations provided for in paragraph (2) of this38 subsection a durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights in accordance with the39 requirements of paragraph (3) of this subsection.40 (2) A durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights, as required in paragraph (1)41 of this subsection, shall be displayed in a manner and location in which it can easily be42 H. B. 1249 - 2 - 26 LC 60 0186 read by both students and adults in locations within each schoo l facility fitting the43 following descriptions:44 (A) The main entrance of the main building;45 (B) The main entrance of the school library or media center; and46 (C) The main entrance of the cafeteria.47 (3) Each durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights as required in paragraph (1)48 of this subsection shall:49 (A) Measure at least 18 inches in width and 24 inches in height; and50 (B) Contain only the following text, in the following order:51 (i) A centered heading entitled 'The Bill of Rights' set out in a font size larger than52 any other text set out on such durable poster or framed copy; and53 (ii) The text of the First through Tenth Amendments of the Uni ted States54 Constitution, including a subheading indicating the respective amendment, in a font55 size and typeface legible to a person with average vision from within the locations56 listed in paragraph (2) of this subsection in which the durable poster or framed copy57 is displayed.58 (4)(A) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any public school, local59 school system, or local board o f education to spend public fund s to purchase any60 durable posters or framed copies of the Bill of Rights in order to comply with the61 requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection.62 (B) Each public school, local school system, or local board of education shall accept:63 (i) Funds donated for the purchase of durable posters or framed copies of the Bill of64 Rights, as required in paragraph (1) of this subsection; and65 (ii) Any offer of a privately donated durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of66 Rights; provided, however, that such durable poster or framed c opy meets the67 requirements set forth in paragraph (3) of this subsection.68 H. B. 1249 - 3 - 26 LC 60 0186 (5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulat i o n s n e c e s s a r y t o69 implement the requirements of this subsection.70 (6) The Department of Education shall publish on its website information that identifies71 free resources that comply with the provisions of this subsection.72 (b)(c) As historical documents, there shall be no content based cens orship of American73 history and heritage documents referred to in this Code section due to their religious or74 cultural nature."75 SECTION 2.76 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law77 without such approval.78 SECTION 3.79 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.80 H. B. 1249 - 4 -