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; providing 
  1.4             for instruction in the proper etiquette, display, and 
  1.5             respect of the United States flag; amending Minnesota 
  1.6             Statutes 2000, section 121A.11, by adding subdivisions.
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 121A.11, is 
  1.9   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 3.  [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.] (a) All public and 
  1.11  charter school students shall recite the pledge of allegiance to 
  1.12  the flag of the United States of America one or more times each 
  1.13  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 school principal or other person having administrative 
  1.18  control over the school. 
  1.19  A local school board or a charter school board of directors 
  1.20  annually, by majority vote, may waive this requirement.  
  1.21     (b) Any student or teacher who objects to reciting the 
  1.22  pledge must be excused from participating without penalty. 
  1.23     (c) A local school board or a charter school board of 
  1.24  directors that waives the requirement to recite the pledge of 
  1.25  allegiance under paragraph (a) may adopt a district or school 
  1.26  policy regarding the reciting of the pledge of allegiance. 
  2.1      <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective the day 
  2.2   following final enactment. 
  2.3      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 121A.11, is 
  2.4   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.5      Subd. 4.  [INSTRUCTION.] Unless this requirement is waived 
  2.6   annually by a majority vote of the school board, a school 
  2.7   district must instruct students in the proper etiquette toward, 
  2.8   correct display of, and respect for the flag, and in patriotic 
  2.9   exercises.  The instruction must be part of the district's fifth 
  2.10  grade social studies curriculum. 
  2.11     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective the day 
  2.12  following final enactment.  Each school district must begin the 
  2.13  instruction required under this section no later than the 
  2.14  2002-2003 school year.