SB1151

THE CONTEXT: A school district governing board must exclude all books, publications, papers or audiovisual materials of a sectarian, partisan or denominational character from schools. Statute permits a school administrator or teacher to read or post in any school building copies or excerpts from: 1) the national motto in God we trust; 2) the national anthem; 3) the Pledge of Allegiance; 4) the Arizona Constitution's preamble; 5) the Declaration of Independence; 6) the Mayflower Compact; 7) writings, speeches, documents and proclamations of the Founding Fathers and U.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would allow a school administrator or teacher to read or post in any school building copies or excerpts from the Ten Commandments.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give Arizonans and public officials a defined option for school classrooms under state law. It would allow a school administrator or teacher to read or post in any school building copies or excerpts from the Ten Commandments, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.