Introduced Version






HOUSE BILL No. 1326

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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 20-10.1-7-18.

Synopsis: Elective study of Bible in public schools. Provides that a school corporation may include in its curriculum as an elective a study of world literature, including the Bible and other similar great works of literature. Requires the state board of education and the professional standards board to jointly develop and report to the legislative council by January 1, 2003, a plan to implement the "academic study of religion in secondary schools".

Effective: July 1, 2002.





Denbo




    January 15, 2002, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.







Introduced

Second Regular Session 112th General Assembly (2002)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2001 General Assembly.

HOUSE BILL No. 1326



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 20-10.1-7-18; (02)IN1326.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 20-10.1-7-18 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2002]: Sec. 18. A school corporation may include in its curriculum as an elective course a study of world literature, including the Bible and other similar great works of literature. A school corporation may not offer this course as a mandatory course of study.
SOURCE: ; (02)IN1326.1.2. -->     SECTION 2. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2002] (a) The Indiana state board of education and the professional standards board established under IC 20-1-1.4 shall jointly develop and report to the legislative council before January 1, 2003, a plan to implement the "academic study of religion in secondary schools", which was implemented in Indiana in 1978, 1979, and 1980. The plan must do the following:
        (1) Address the following:
            (A) The training of prospective and current teachers.
            (B) Curriculum guidelines.
            (C) Teacher training materials.
            (D) Student learning materials.
            (E) Costs.
        (2) Follow guidelines established or implied by the United States Supreme Court on the teaching of religion in public schools.
        (3) Encourage variety in course programming, such as providing for courses to be offered as:
            (A) self-contained units within language arts, fine arts, or social studies curricula; or
            (B) part of an integrated program in humanities studies.
        (4) To assure constitutional applications, address the need for teacher consultation and professional oversight and review to answer questions of interpretation and application.
    (b) This SECTION expires July 1, 2003.