1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; requiring recitation of the 
  1.3             pledge of allegiance in all public schools; amending 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 121A.11, by adding a 
  1.5             subdivision. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 121A.11, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 3.  [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.] (a) Unless this 
  1.10  requirement is waived annually by a majority vote of the school 
  1.11  board, the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States 
  1.12  of America shall be recited in all public schools once or more 
  1.13  each school week.  The recitation shall be conducted: 
  1.14     (1) by each individual classroom teacher or the teacher's 
  1.15  surrogate; or 
  1.16     (2) over a school intercom system by a person designated by 
  1.17  the principal. 
  1.18     (b) Any student or teacher who objects to participating in 
  1.19  the pledge recitation must be excused from participation without 
  1.20  penalty.  
  1.21     (c) A school board that waives the recitation of the pledge 
  1.22  of allegiance under paragraph (a) may adopt a local policy 
  1.23  regarding the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.