MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WBMA) - Alabama House and Senate committees gave favorable approval to the latest versions of bills that require the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The newest version only requires K-12 public schools to comply with the directive.
The initial drafts of Senate Bill 166 and House Bill 178 mandated that public colleges and universities must showcase the document as well.
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Along with showcasing the Ten Commandments at entrances or shared spaces within a school, the measure approved in committees on Wednesday also mandated their presence in classrooms where U.S. history is typically instructed.
The legislation outlines the specific manner in which the Ten Commandments must be exhibited along with the precise wording required.
Educational institutions are not obligated to utilize their financial resources for adhering to the mandates set forth in the legislation. It is recommended that local educational authorities take advantage of materials provided at no cost or distributed as donations to these schools.
The State Department of Education needs to find free materials that meet the legislative requirements and should publish these resources on the ALSDE website.
YOU CAN FIND THE MOST RECENT VERSION HERE:
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Although proponents of the law argue that the Ten Commandments hold historical importance for the establishment of the United States, several religious leaders have voiced their opposition to the bill during past public hearings.
Several issues revolved around endorsing specific religious beliefs over others, along with the adoption of a particular version of the Ten Commandments mandated by the legislation. Various religious traditions have differing renditions of these commandments.
The legislation currently acknowledges that numerous renditions of the Ten Commandments exist and specifies that the mandated version is a widely accepted translation rather than being the sole interpretation.
The full Senate will vote on Senate Bill 166 soon. The entire House will take up voting on House Bill 178 afterward.