AUSTIN, Texas (NewsNation) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing two school districts for “openly refusing” to display donated copies of the Ten Commandments in their classrooms, a new state requirement.
The lawsuit was filed against Round Rock Independent School District Leander Independent School District.
“These rogue ISD officials and board members blatantly disregarded the will of Texas voters who expect the legal and moral heritage of our state to be displayed in accordance with the law,” Paxton’s office said in a news release. “Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD chose to defy a clear statutory mandate, and this lawsuit makes clear that no district may ignore Texas law without consequence.”
Paxton has for months warned school districts to comply with the legislation — except if they are one of the 11 school districts ordered not to put Ten Commandments posters up. His office is asking the court to force the school districts to display the donated copies of the Ten Commandments.
What is Texas’ Senate Bill 10?
Texas legislators passed SB 10 over the summer, and the law went into effect on Sept. 1.
The three-page bill lays out the rules for schools to display donated posters, saying “a public elementary or secondary school shall display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments” that meets the parameters laid out in the law.
Posters are supposed to be at least 16 by 20 inches in size, legible for a person with average eyesight from anywhere in the room, and can’t contain additional content, the law states.
School districts are required to accept and display the posters, if donated, but they aren’t required to purchase them.
The law says Paxton’s office “shall defend a public elementary or secondary school in a cause of action relating to any claims arising out of a school ’s compliance with this section.”
NewsNation local affiliate KXAN in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.