House Bill 0009

    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                   HB 9

        By Representative Harrington






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to patriotic programs in the

  3         school districts; creating s. 233.0655, F.S.;

  4         authorizing district school board rules to

  5         require patriotic programs; providing program

  6         requirements; requiring recitation of the

  7         pledge of allegiance; providing an effective

  8         date.

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10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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12         Section 1.  Section 233.0655, Florida Statutes, is

13  created to read:

14         233.0655  Patriotic programs; rules.--Each district

15  school board is authorized to adopt rules to require, in all

16  of the schools of the district, programs of a patriotic nature

17  to encourage greater respect for the government of the United

18  States and its national anthem and flag, subject always to

19  other existing pertinent laws of the United States or of the

20  state; provided, that when the national anthem is played,

21  students and all civilians shall stand at attention, men

22  removing the headdress; and provided, further, that the pledge

23  of allegiance to the flag, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of

24  the United States of America and to the republic for which it

25  stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and

26  justice for all," shall be rendered by students standing with

27  the right hand over the heart. The pledge of allegiance to the

28  flag, as stated herein, shall be recited at the beginning of

29  the day in each elementary and secondary public school in the

30  state, provided that, upon written request by a parent or

31  guardian, a student may be excused from reciting the pledge.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                   HB 9

    581-125-99






  1  When the pledge is given, civilians must show full respect to

  2  the flag by standing at attention, men removing the headdress,

  3  as provided by s. 7 of U.S. Pub. L. No. 623, approved June 22,

  4  1942, as amended by U.S. Pub. L. No. 829, approved December

  5  22, 1942.

  6         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1 of the

  7  year in which enacted.

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10                          HOUSE SUMMARY

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      Authorizes district school boards to require patriotic
12    programs in district schools and specifies program
      requirements. Requires recitation of the pledge of
13    allegiance in district schools.

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