House of Representatives

HB 2493

schools; American history documentation

Sponsors: Representatives Farnsworth, Pearce, Pierce, Cooley, et al

 

DPA

Committee on Retirement and Government Operations

X

Caucus and COW

 

Third Read

 

 

As Passed the House

 

HB 2493 specifies that the current allowance to read or post certain historic materials in schools is regardless of the fact that these materials may contain religious references, quotations or illustrations. The bill also requires the words, “In God we trust,” to be displayed in each classroom, auditorium and cafeteria.

 

Current Status

HB 2493 was amended in the Retirement and Government Operations Committee to strike the specification that certain historic materials that are read or posted in schools are in spite of any religious references, quotations or illustrations they may contain. The amendment also deletes the requirements regarding the background that the words, “In God we trust,” be displayed on.

 

History

ARS §15-717 was added into statute in 1993 to allow teachers or administrators to read or post certain historic material in school buildings. This law identifies the specific historic material allowed to be posted or read in schools as the following: the national motto; the national anthem; the pledge of allegiance; the preamble to the constitution of Arizona; the declaration of independence; the Mayflower compact; founding fathers’ and United States presidents’ writings, speeches, documents and proclamations; United States Supreme Court decisions and the acts of the United States Congress.

 

Provisions

·          Specifies that certain historic materials that are currently allowed to be read or posted in schools are in spite of any religious references, quotations or illustrations they may contain.

 

·          Requires the words, “In God we trust,” to be posted in each classroom, auditorium and cafeteria on an appropriate background, which is at least 11 by 14 inches.

 

Amendments

HB 2493 was amended in the Retirement and Government Operations Committee as follows:

§         Deletes the specification that certain historic materials that are read or posted in schools are in spite of any religious references, quotations or illustrations they may contain.

 

§         Strikes the requirement that the words, “In God we trust,” be posted on an appropriate background.

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§         45th Legislature                 

§         Second Regular Session      2          March 25, 2002

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