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2002 SESSION

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HB 161 Public schools; displaying of transcendent values in historical texts.

Introduced by: L. Scott Lingamfelter | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE: (all summaries)

Posting of Ten Commandments in public schools. Directs the Board of Education, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to develop guidelines regarding the display of the Ten Commandments in the public schools, the first sentence of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, the first two clauses of Article I, Section 16 of the Constitution of Virginia, and the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This bill refers to these materials, collectively, as "transcendent values in historical texts." Local school boards may authorize the display of transcendent values in historical texts in a manner consistent with such guidelines. The Board's guidelines must include, but must not be limited to, provisions that address relevant state and federal constitutional concerns, such as freedom of religion and speech, separation of church and state, and federal and state judicial decisions addressing the permissible and appropriate display of transcendent values in historical texts. The guidelines are not subject to the requirements of the Administrative Process Act; however, this bill incorporates a notice and public hearing process for the development of the guidelines. The Attorney General must provide legal defense of this law as well as any legal defense to the adopted guidelines and to any local school board that displays the documents pursuant to the guidelines.


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