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March 18, 2005

Silly Texas Bill

Currently pending in the Texas House of Representatives is H.B. No. 1476, which i've posted below, in full:

AN ACT relating to regulation of sexually suggestive performances at certain public school events.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

          SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.088 to read as follows:

          Sec. 33.088. SEXUALLY SUGGESTIVE PERFORMANCES PROHIBITED.

          (a) A school dance team, drill team, cheerleading team, or similar performance group may not perform in a sexually suggestive manner at an athletic or other extracurricular event or competition sponsored or approved by a school district or campus.

          (b) A school performance group that violates Subsection (a) may not perform for the remainder of the school year in which the violation occurs.

          (c) If the commissioner determines that a school district or a campus in a school district knowingly permits a sexually suggestive performance prohibited by Subsection (a) or knowingly permits a school performance group to perform in violation of Subsection (b), the commissioner shall reduce the funding the district receives under Chapter 42 by an amount the commissioner determines appropriate.

          SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.

This silly bill, introduced by Al Edwards of Houston, a Democrat (what a surprise), is currently in committee.

i'll keep an eye on it.

i don't understand why people think conservatives are prudes, when it's Democrats who want a new law for every perceived threat to morality. Remember Tipper?

Posted by annika, Mar. 18, 2005 |
Rubric: Legal Mumbo Jumbo



Comments

Schools can control what kids do at school events, it's that simple. Hey, I'm a complete degenerate now, but I continually thank my parents for instilling moral principles so I understand the difference.

That's the true problem with the moral relevance that has dominated schools for 15+ years. Unfortunately, the bill will come due (soon) in difficult to forecast ways.

If the cheerleaders are smart, they'll have a fundraiser off campus where they do the forbidden dance (I hope "Push It" by Salt and Pepa is on the list) and split the proceeds 60/40 between tsunami victims and the team itself.

Posted by: Jason O. on Mar. 18, 2005

I agree with you that the law is silly. But as far as that last line. Newsflash!: Southern Democrats are notoriously conservative on social issues and morality.

Posted by: Melinda Barton on Mar. 18, 2005

My experience working for the Florida Legislature, which may or may not translate perfectly to Texas, was that if a bill didn't have a majority (R) sponsor, it probably would never even be put on the agenda by the Chairman to be heard, let alone reported out of committee. However, the bill's lone cosponor, so far, is Corbin Van Arsdale, a Republican, so who knows?

Regardless, however, it also doesn't have a Senate companion bill as far as I can tell. Until it does, it's almost certainly DOA in the Senate.

Posted by: Dave J on Mar. 18, 2005

It is a bad law because it would be impossible to enforce.

But it would be nice if we could let kids be kids until they reach the age of 15 or 16 instead of making girls of 12 sexual objects.

Posted by: Jake on Mar. 18, 2005

Unlike maybe everyone here, I have child in high school - a son, 17 years old, superfabulous, a National Merit Scholar, a very talented musician with several instruments, who shall save all our lives by getting a combo scholastic/music scholarship to college. The upshot is, amazingly enough, I'm hip to the high school scene for this moment in time. I'm at high schools for football games, baseball games, honors band competitions, jazz band competitions, drum line competitions, and the odd miscellaneous event.

As always, a law enforcing morality(instead of protecting rights) can never work. WHO would be the legal arbiter of what constitutes a sexualized movement? I'd like to hear(or see!) the evidence in that inevitable court case. Such a law is impossible to enforce, and always will be.

HOWEVER, cheerleader moves and drill team moves are extremely sexualized, and school districts should demonstrate more leadership in this area. I am not anyone's prude, but that's just the truth. The lower income schools trend towards more sexualized choreography. The lower income black schools have the most sexualized choreography of all. This sounds silly, buts its simply a fact that the black girls like to dream up as many ways as possible to get their butts into their acts. I don't think it would be that hard to allow these girls to get their butts into their routines, and have some fun, yet maintain some standard of proper behavior for young women who want to have fun and represent their schools at the same time. Topless dancers have their place in society, but high school drill teams should not be their training grounds.

Posted by: gcotharn on Mar. 19, 2005

I AM surprised that a Democrat would propose a bill like this, since it's usually the Republicans that want to dictate people's personal lives (i.e., abortion, stem cell research, Terry Schiavo, homosexual lifestyles, etc.). But I guess there's one in every party.

Posted by: sam on Apr. 7, 2005

If you observe things objectively, i think you'll find that it is the democrats who are quickest to legislate morality. Many liberals don't notice this because they just happen to agree with the type of morality that democrats want to enforce.

Posted by: annie on Apr. 7, 2005

i had to pick a bill to research, in government class and i chose this one to see the motives behind it. and it is clear that from reading the whole thing that "edwards is clearly not "getting some" i dont hear him saying i wish these hoes will back up off me"....

Posted by: luciano on Apr. 19, 2005

I hope the bill passes. My daughter was involved last year in competitive cheerleading (in Texas) and I was horrified to see some of the dance moves at the competitions (other teams). Parents literally gasped at one competition when one team had girls as young as 8-12 jumping on another girl's back and imitating a sensual simulated bull ride.

My daughter recently made high school cheerleader and I have already told her Coach that she is not allowed to do suggestive dance moves. The drill team at her school performed at a pep rally last year and wore white wife beater shirts with lowrise jeans, thong straps hanging out, and black bra straps hanging off their shoulders. At one point in their dance they were sitting and twisted around to face the football team sitting on the court, spread their legs, winked, and motioned for them to "come and get it." The only thing they were missing was the stripper pole. After that, I told my daughter the drill team was out. Enough is enough. Let our kids be kids. This is not a party issue. Any rational parent (especially of a daughter) should be concerned.

Posted by: jeanie on Apr. 20, 2005

Your comments regarding democrats on this issue is misplaced (i.e., wrong, silly, misinformed, ignorant, etc.). While the author of the bill is a democrat, it was passed by republican votes. You have to remember, this bill arose in Texas where a democrat aint necessarily liberal.

In short, it's the republicans (with some wolves in democrat clothing) down in Texas that want to regulate every bit of our lives to avoid the perceived evil besetting us from all sides.

Posted by: Johnny Feelgood on May. 5, 2005