Bill Text - HB1361 (2020)

Relative to the pledge of allegiance or other patriotic ceremonies.


Revision: Dec. 2, 2019, 3:10 p.m.

HB 1361 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-2609

06/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1361

 

AN ACT relative to the pledge of allegiance or other patriotic ceremonies.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 6

 

COMMITTEE: Education

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires pupils who elect to participate in the recitation of the pledge of allegiance in school to respect the rights of those not participating.  This bill also clarifies that recitation of the pledge of allegiance is voluntary for adults present in school.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2609

06/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT relative to the pledge of allegiance or other patriotic ceremonies.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Powers and Duties of School Districts; New Hampshire School Patriot Act.  Amend RSA 194:15-c, II and III to read as follows:

II.  A school district [shall] may authorize a period of time during the school day for the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.  Pupil participation in the recitation of the pledge of allegiance shall be voluntary.  

III.  Pupils not participating in the recitation of the pledge of allegiance [may silently stand or remain seated but] shall be required to respect the rights of those pupils electing to participate.  Pupils and other individuals electing to participate shall be required to respect the rights of those not participating.  If this paragraph shall be declared to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remaining paragraphs in this section shall not be affected, and shall continue in full force and effect.

IV.  No student shall be excluded from any academic, athletic, or extra-curricular activity merely for refusal to participate in the pledge of allegiance or other patriotic ceremony.

V.  Participation by teachers, coaches, staff members, or other adults present in school shall be voluntary.

VI.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing schools from disciplining disruptive pupils.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.