First Substitute H.B. 79

Representative Richard M. Siddoway proposes the following substitute bill:

1 SCHOOL DISPLAY OF MOTTO OF THE
2 UNITED STATES
3 2002 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Richard M. Siddoway
6 This act modifies provisions relating to the State System of Public Education by requiring
7 the display of "In God we trust," the motto of the United States, in one or more prominent
8 places within each school building.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 AMENDS:
11 53A-13-101.4, as enacted by Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 1996
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
13 Section 1. Section 53A-13-101.4 is amended to read:
14 53A-13-101.4. Study and posting of American heritage documents.
15 (1) The Legislature recognizes that a proper understanding of American history and
16 government is essential to good citizenship, and that the public schools are the primary public
17 institutions charged with responsibility for assisting children and youth in gaining that
18 understanding.
19 (2) (a) The State Board of Education and local school boards shall periodically review
20 school curricula and activities to ensure that effective instruction in American history and
21 government is taking place in the public schools.
22 (b) The boards shall solicit public input as part of the review process.
23 (3) School curricula and activities shall include the appropriate study of historical
24 documents such as:
25 (a) the Declaration of Independence;

26 (b) the United States Constitution;
27 (c) the national motto;
28 (d) the pledge of allegiance;
29 (e) the national anthem;
30 (f) the Mayflower Compact;
31 (g) the writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations of the Founders and the
32 Presidents of the United States;
33 (h) organic documents from the pre-Colonial, Colonial, Revolutionary, Federalist, and post
34 Federalist eras;
35 (i) United States Supreme Court decisions;
36 (j) Acts of the United States Congress, including the published text of the Congressional
37 Record; and
38 (k) United States treaties.
39 (4) To increase student understanding of, and familiarity with, American historical
40 documents, public schools may display historically important excerpts from, or copies of, those
41 documents in school classrooms and common areas as appropriate.
42 (5) There shall be no content-based censorship of American history and heritage
43 documents referred to in this section due to their religious [and/or] or cultural nature.
44 (6) Public schools shall display "In God we trust," which is declared in 36 U.S.C. 302 to
45 be the national motto of the United States, in one or more prominent places within each school
46 building.