2000 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 752 – Education, ethics/principles/virtue

HOUSE BILL NO. 752

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Daily Data Tracking History



H0752..........................................................by EDUCATION
EDUCATION - ETHICS/PRINCIPLES/VIRTUE - Adds to existing law to create the
ethics, principles and virtue education fund to be administered to provide
grants to teachers and a teacher honorarium to encourage and recognize
programs which successfully teach ethics, principles and virtue.
                                                                        
03/16    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/17    Rpt prt - to Educ

Bill Text


 H0752
                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-fifth Legislature                  Second Regular Session - 2000
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 752
                                                                        
                                   BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION IN ETHICS, PRINCIPLES AND  VIRTUE;  AMENDING
  3        TITLE 33, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW CHAPTER 54, TITLE 33, IDAHO
  4        CODE,  TO  PROVIDE A STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS, TO CREATE THE ETH-
  5        ICS, PRINCIPLES AND VIRTUE EDUCATION  FUND,  TO  PROVIDE  DUTIES  FOR  THE
  6        ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND, TO AUTHORIZE GRANTS TO TEACHERS AND TO PROVIDE
  7        A TEACHER HONORARIUM.
                                                                        
  8    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
  9        SECTION  1.  That Title 33, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby amended
 10    by the addition thereto of a NEW CHAPTER, to be known and designated as  Chap-
 11    ter 54, Title 33, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
                                                                        
 12                                      CHAPTER 54
 13                     ETHICS, PRINCIPLES AND VIRTUE EDUCATION FUND
                                                                        
 14        33-5401.  FINDINGS. The legislature finds:
 15        (1)  That  ethical, principled and virtuous citizens are necessary for the
 16    existence of a well-mannered, secure and decent society in Idaho;
 17        (2)  That parents are primarily responsible for instilling ethics, princi-
 18    ples and virtue in their children;
 19        (3)  That every educator  has  great  opportunity  to  influence  children
 20    through reinforcement of parents' training and further complementary education
 21    in ethics, principles and virtue;
 22        (4)  That  "The  Book  of  Virtues"  and "The Children's Book of Virtues,"
 23    edited by William Bennett, and George Washington's  "Rules  of  Civility"  are
 24    premier  examples  of  writings  suitable and effective for instilling ethics,
 25    principles and virtue in students;
 26        (5)  That the matters set out in this chapter are in  fulfillment  of  the
 27    legislature's  obligation set forth in section 24, article III, of the consti-
 28    tution of the state of Idaho.
                                                                        
 29        33-5402.  ETHICS, PRINCIPLES AND VIRTUE EDUCATION FUND.  There  is  hereby
 30    created  in the treasury of the state of Idaho the ethics, principles and vir-
 31    tue education fund. All moneys appropriated to the fund and all  donations  of
 32    money to the fund shall be deposited to the credit of such fund. The treasurer
 33    may also accept donations of property on behalf of the fund. The treasurer may
 34    authorize  the  expenditure  and transfer of money in the fund and other dona-
 35    tions for the purposes and upon the conditions set out in  this  chapter.  The
 36    treasurer  may  hire or contract with a party to serve as administrator of the
 37    fund. The treasurer may promulgate rules necessary to implement  the  purposes
 38    of this chapter.
                                                                        
 39        33-5403.  DUTIES OF ADMINISTRATOR. The administrator shall:
 40        (1)  Establish  simple forms by which teachers may apply for grants as set
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    out in this chapter;
  2        (2)  Review writings submitted by the governor for  approval  as  writings
  3    suitable  and  effective  for  teaching  of  ethics,  principles and virtue in
  4    Idaho's classrooms and may prepare and submit legislation for approval of such
  5    writings for use as core writings in programs for which grants can be awarded.
  6    Approval of additional writings shall be by concurrent resolution of the  leg-
  7    islature expressly identifying the approved writings;
  8        (3)  Review  grant applications and, subject to available funds and autho-
  9    rization to the treasurer, award grants for proposals meeting  the  conditions
 10    set out herein.
                                                                        
 11        33-5404.  GRANTS TO TEACHERS. Any teacher at a public elementary school in
 12    Idaho  may apply to the fund administrator for a grant upon the following con-
 13    ditions:
 14        (1)  Only one (1) grant of up to one hundred fifty dollars ($150)  may  be
 15    awarded  to  any  teacher  per  school  year and award of grants is subject to
 16    available funds.
 17        (2)  Grants may be made only for proposals that:
 18        (a)  Utilize "The Book of Virtues,"  "The  Children's  Book  of  Virtues,"
 19        George  Washington's "Rules of Civility" or other writings approved by the
 20        legislature as the core text for teaching of ethics, principles and virtue
 21        in the teacher's classroom; and
 22        (b)  Follow a schedule of at least one-half (1/2) hour of  dedicated  eth-
 23        ics, principles and virtue instruction in each school week; and
 24        (c)  Include  provision  for  integration  of the grant program with other
 25        subjects throughout the remainder of the school week.
 26        (3)  After purchase of core writings and other materials set  out  in  the
 27    application, the remainder of the grant funds may be used at the discretion of
 28    the teacher.
 29        (4)  The  teacher  must  agree to submit information relating to classroom
 30    discipline and academic performance of students as is required by the adminis-
 31    trator.
                                                                        
 32        33-5405.  TEACHER HONORARIUM. Subject to available funds, the governor may
 33    award an honorarium from the ethics, principles and virtue education  fund  of
 34    up  to  two hundred dollars ($200) to any teacher who has completed a proposal
 35    for which a grant was awarded. Honorariums may be awarded to any  teacher  who
 36    has demonstrated exemplary success from the teaching of ethics, principles and
 37    virtue as evidenced by improved academic performance or decreased incidence of
 38    disciplinary actions for the teacher's students.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


     
                           
                 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                      RS 10047C2 
     
     This creates a fund to promote voluntary character education in Idaho's public
     schools. 
     
     
                           
                    FISCAL IMPACT
     
     None Required. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     Contact 
     Name:  Rep. Bill Sali
     Phone: 208/332-1000
     Name:  John Elliott 
           Idaho Family Forum
     Phone: 208/376-9009 
     
     
                                                  STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                                     H 752