08 LC 21
9735
House
Bill 1265
By:
Representative Smith of the
168th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to general provisions relative to state government, so as to provide a short
title; to provide that public employees and persons under the care or control of
the state or a political subdivision shall not be restricted or discouraged from
expressing greetings or salutations associated with any religious or cultural
day or period of commemoration; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
This
Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Freedom of Religious Expression
Act."
SECTION
2.
Chapter
1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions relative to state government, is amended by adding a new Code section
to read as follows:
"50-1-9.
No employee of the state or any political subdivision of the state or any public
authority or corporation and no student, prisoner, ward of the state, or any
other person under the care or control of the state or any political subdivision
or authority of the state shall be restricted or discouraged in any way from
expressing greetings or salutations associated with any religious or cultural
day or period of commemoration, including, without limitation, 'Merry
Christmas,' 'Ramadan Kareem,' 'Namasté,' 'Happy Hanukkah,' and 'Happy
Kwanzaa.'"
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.