LD 1481
pg. 1
LD 1481 Title Page An Act to Permit the Ten Commandments to be Posted in Public Schools LD 1481 Title Page
Download Bill Text
LR 2116
Item 1

 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

 
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §11 is enacted to read:

 
§11.__Posting of Ten Commandments

 
A public school may prominently display the Ten Commandments
of the Bible.

 
Sec. 2. Statutory referendum procedure; submission at general election in 2002; form of
question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters
of the State of Maine at a general election held in November
2002. The municipal officers of this State shall notify the
inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to
meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide
election, to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by
voting on the following question:

 
"Do you favor allowing, but not requiring, the Ten
Commandments of the Bible to be displayed prominently at a
school that is funded primarily with public funds?"

 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote
by ballot on this question, and shall designate their choice by a
cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square below
the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted,
counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings
and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as
votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review
the returns and, if it appears that a majority of the legal votes
are cast in favor of the Act, the Governor shall proclaim that
fact without delay, and the Act takes effect 30 days after the
date of the proclamation.

 
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city,
town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this Act
necessary to carry out the purpose of this referendum.

 
SUMMARY

 
This bill, if approved at the general election held in
November of 2002, would allow the prominent display of the Ten
Commandments of the Bible in public schools, which by definition
of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 1, subsection
24 means a school governed by a school board of a school
administrative unit and funded primarily with public funds.


LD 1481 Title Page Top of Page LD 1481 Title Page