Education-elective academic bible study.

WORKING DRAFT
2013
STATE OF
WYOMING
13LSO-0324.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.

HB0130

Education-elective academic bible study.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Watt

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to
public school elective courses; providing for elect
ive classes in biblical studies
;

and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
104

is
created
to read:

21
‑
9
‑
104
.

Elective courses on the
b
ible's Hebrew
s
criptures (
o
ld
t
estament) and
n
ew
t
estament
.

(a
)

A school district may offer to students in grade nine (9) or above

elective credit courses
on the Hebrew
s
criptures (
o
ld
t
estament) and its impact and elective
credit
course
s
on the
n
ew
t
estament and its impact
or a course combining the two (2) subject matters noted herein into one (1)
elective credit
course.

(b
)

The purpose of th
is
course
or courses
is to:

(
i
)

Teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory and public policy;

(ii
)

Familiarize students with, as applicable:

(
A
)

The contents of the Hebrew
s
criptures or
n
ew
t
estament;

(
B
)

The history of the Hebrew
s
criptures or
n
ew
t
estament;

(
C
)

The literary style and structure of the Hebrew
s
criptures or
n
ew
t
estament;

(
D
)

The influence of the Hebrew
s
criptures or
n
ew
t
estament on law, history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values and culture.

(
c
)

A student may not be required to use a specific translation as the sole text of the Hebrew
s
criptures or
n
ew
t
estament and may use as the basic textbook a different translation of the Hebrew
s
criptures or
n
ew
t
estament from that chosen by the board of trustees of the student's school district or the student's teacher.

(
d
)

A course offered under this subsection shall follow applicable law and all federal and state guidelines in maintaining religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious views, traditions and perspectives of students in their school district. A course
offered
under this section shall not endorse, favor or promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective. Nothing in this statute is intended to violate any provision of the United States
c
onstitution or federal law, the Wyoming
c
onstitution or any state law, or any rules or guidelines provided by the United States
d
epartment of
e
ducation or the
state department of education
.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 201
3
.

(END)

1
HB0130