06 LC 33
1123
Senate
Bill 437
By:
Senators Golden of the 8th, Stoner of the 6th, Reed of the 35th and Powell of
the 23rd
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum for elementary
and secondary students under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to
authorize the State Board of Education to develop and adopt a curriculum for a
state funded elective course consisting of a nonsectarian, nonreligious academic
study of the Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture, and
politics; to provide for implementation by a local board of education; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum for elementary and
secondary students under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by adding
at the end thereof a new Code section to read as follows:
∀20-2-148.
(a)
The State Board of Education is authorized to approve a curriculum for an
elective state funded course consisting of a nonsectarian, nonreligious academic
study of the Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture, and
politics. The curriculum and associated textbook shall meet academic rigor and
standards of the State Board of Education in the same manner as required for
approval of any other elective course and textbook approved by the state board
and shall meet the requirements of the Constitutions of the United States and
the State of Georgia. The course provided for in this Code section
shall:
(1)
Be taught in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to
indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the biblical
materials or texts from other religious or cultural traditions;
(2)
Not include teaching of religious doctrine or sectarian interpretation of the
Bible or of texts from other religious or cultural traditions; and
(3)
Not disparage or encourage a commitment to a set of religious
beliefs.
(b)
A local board of education that elects to offer a course and utilize an
associated textbook approved in accordance with subsection (a) of this Code
section shall implement such course in accordance with the Constitutions of the
United States and the State of Georgia, including the manner in which the course
is taught in the classroom and the assignment by the local board of education of
the individual teaching the course. The individual assigned to teach the course
shall meet all certification requirements and all other provisions of this
chapter relating to personnel employed by local units of administration. In
addition, no person shall be assigned to teach such course based in whole or in
part on any religious test, profession of faith or lack of faith, prior or
present religious affiliation or lack of affiliation, or criteria involving
particular beliefs or lack of beliefs about the
Bible.∀
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.