Ten Commandments Monument Display Act

  1. Law
  2. Arkansas Code
  3. Public Property
  4. Public Buildings and Other Facilities
  5. Capitol Building and Grounds Generally
  6. Ten Commandments Monument Display Act

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  1. (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Ten Commandments Monument Display Act”.

  2. (b)

    1. (1) The Secretary of State shall permit and arrange for the placement on the State Capitol grounds of a suitable monument commemorating the Ten Commandments and containing the following text, which was displayed on the monument declared constitutional in Van Orden v. Perry, 545 U.S. 677 (2005):

    2. (2)

      1. (A) The Secretary of State shall arrange for the monument to be designed, constructed, and placed on the State Capitol grounds by private entities at no expense to the State of Arkansas.

      2. (B) The monument shall be placed on the State Capitol grounds where there are other monuments.

    3. (3) The Secretary of State shall:

      1. (A) Approve the design and site selection for the monument under this subsection; and

      2. (B) Arrange a suitable time for its placement.

    4. (4)

      1. (A) Before approving the design and site selection for the monument under this subsection, the Secretary of State shall consult the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission and obtain the commission's views on design and site selection.

      2. (B) The monument under this subsection shall be exempt from § 22-3-301 et seq. and § 22-3-501 et seq.

  3. (c) In the event that the legality or constitutionality of the monument under subsection (b) of this section is challenged in a court of law, the Attorney General may:

    1. (1) Prepare and present a legal defense of the monument; or

    2. (2)

      1. (A) Request that Liberty Legal Institute prepare and present a legal defense of the monument.

      2. (B) A request that Liberty Legal Institute prepare and present a legal defense of the monument shall not be subject to § 25-16-702.

  4. (d) The placement of the monument under this section shall not be construed to mean that the State of Arkansas favors any particular religion or denomination over others.

“The Ten Commandments

I AM the LORD thy God.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images.

Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.”.


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