hb158.html
05 LC 33 0807S
The House Committee on Education offers the following substitute to HB 158:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to quality basic education, so as to provide that no school or school system receiving state funds shall prohibit or restrict the use of historical documents in classrooms for educational purposes on the basis that such documents contain or make reference to God; to provide a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to quality basic education, is amended by adding a new Code Section 20-2-308 to read as follows:
"20-2-308.
Reserved No school or school system receiving state funds shall prohibit, restrict, or require the use of historical documents in classrooms for educational purposes on the basis that such documents contain or make reference to God or the Creator. For the purposes of this Code section, the term 'historical document' shall mean documents associated with the origin, founding, composition, or structure of the United States and the several states, including, but not limited to, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the constitutions of the several states, and the laws and judicial decisions of the United States and the several states. However, these historical documents or portions of such documents shall not be used out of context to advocate any particular religious viewpoint in a classroom, in accordance with Article I, Section I, Paragraphs III and IV of the Georgia Constitution and the First Amendment to the United States Constitution."

SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.