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HOUSE BILL NO. 309

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Daily Data Tracking History

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H0309..........................................................by EDUCATION
PUBLIC SCHOOLS - FLAG - Amends existing law to provide that the United
States flag shall be displayed in every public school classroom; to provide
that every public school shall offer the Pledge of Allegiance or the
national anthem at the beginning of each school day; and to provide that no
pupil who objects shall be compelled to participate in reciting the Pledge
of Allegiance or singing the national anthem.

02/26    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/01    Rpt prt - to Educ
03/04    Rpt out - to Gen Ord

Bill Text

H0309


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature                 First Regular Session - 1999
                                                                        

                             IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 309

                                  BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO  COURSES  OF  INSTRUCTION  IN  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS;  AMENDING  SECTION
 3        33-1602,  IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE UNITED STATES FLAG SHALL BE DIS-
 4        PLAYED IN EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM,  TO  PROVIDE  THAT  EVERY  PUBLIC
 5        SCHOOL  SHALL OFFER THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THE
 6        BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL DAY, TO PROVIDE THAT NO PUPIL WHO  OBJECTS  SHALL
 7        BE  COMPELLED  TO PARTICIPATE IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OR SINGING THE ANTHEM
 8        AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

 9    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

10        SECTION 1.  That Section 33-1602, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
11    amended to read as follows:

12        33-1602.  UNITED  STATES  CONSTITUTION  --  NATIONAL  FLAG  AND  COLORS --
13    NATIONAL ANTHEM -- "AMERICA."  a.  (1)   Instruction  in
14    the  Constitution  of  the  United States shall be given in all elementary and
15    secondary schools. The state board of education shall adopt such materials  as
16    may  be deemed necessary for said purpose, and shall also determine the grades
17    in which such instruction shall be given;
18         b.  (2)   Instruction in the  proper  use,  display
19    and history of and respect for the American flag and the national colors shall
20    be  given  in  all  elementary  and  secondary schools. Such instruction shall
21    include the pledge of allegiance to the flag,  the  words  and  music  of  the
22    national anthem, and of "America."
23          (3)  Every  school  board of trustees shall cause the United States
24    flag to be displayed in every classroom during the school hours of each school
25    day.
26        (4)  Every public school shall offer  the  pledge  of  allegiance  or  the
27    national anthem in grades one (1) through twelve (12) at the beginning of each
28    school day.
29        (5)  No  pupil shall be compelled, against the pupil's objections or those
30    of the pupil's parent or guardian, to recite the pledge of  allegiance  or  to
31    sing the national anthem. 

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact

                            STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                                   RS09121

The purpose of this legislation is to amend Idaho Code 33-1602 to provide for
display of the U.S. Flag; offering of the Pledge of Allegiance; and singing of
the National Anthem, in all public classrooms in the State of Idaho at the
beginning of each school day.

                                      
                                      
                                 FISCAL NOTE

Many school districts in Idaho do not display the U.S. Flag in classrooms due
to a lack of funding for the purchase of flags. This legislation is supported
by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) who will provide
flags to those schools and classrooms that do not have sufficient funds for
their purchase through donations and direct solicitation in the community.






CONTACT:  T.C. Brock Jr.
   884-8583
   
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ FISCAL NOTE          Bill No.     H 309