FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 526

92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES JACKSON, ICET AND STEFANICK (Co-sponsors).

         Read 1^st time February 20, 2003, and copies ordered printed.

STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk

1788L.01I

AN ACT

To amend chapter 170, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the power of local school boards to allow the posting of certain historical documents regardless of religious content.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Chapter 170, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 170.010, to read as follows:

            170.017. The board of directors of any school district may allow any teacher or administrator in a public school district of the state of Missouri to read or post in a public school building, classroom or at a school event any excerpts or portions of the:

            (1) National motto;

            (2) National anthem;

            (3) Pledge of allegiance;

            (4) Preamble of the Missouri Constitution;

            (5) Declaration of Independence;

            (6) Mayflower Compact;

            (7) Writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations of the founding fathers and presidents of the United States;

            (8) United States Supreme Court decisions; and

            (9) Acts of the United States Congress including the published text of the Congressional Record.

There shall be no content-based censorship of American history or heritage in the state of Missouri based on religious references in the writing, document and records specified in this section.