PRINTER'S NO. 3446
No. 2412 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY SCHRODER, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BALDWIN, BARRAR,
BENNINGHOFF, BOYD, CAPPELLI, CLYMER, CORNELL, CRAHALLA,
CREIGHTON, DALLY, DENLINGER, GEIST, GEORGE, GRELL, HERMAN,
HERSHEY, HICKERNELL, KAUFFMAN, KOTIK, LEH, McILHATTAN,
METCALFE, MICOZZIE, S. MILLER, MYERS, O'NEILL, PYLE, RAPP,
REICHLEY, ROHRER, SATHER, B. SMITH, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN,
E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, WILT AND SIPTROTH, JANUARY 30, 2006
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 30, 2006
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," further providing for display of
6 United States flag and development of patriotism.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 771 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
10 No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by
11 adding a subsection to read:
12 Section 771. Display of United States Flag; Development of
13 Patriotism.--* * *
14 (e) (1) No teacher or administrator in a public school
15 entity shall be prohibited from using or reading from, during
16 the course of educational instruction, or from posting in a
17 public school building, classroom or event, any of the following
1 or any excerpts or portions of the following:
2 (i) The national motto.
3 (ii) The national anthem.
4 (iii) The Pledge of Allegiance.
5 (iv) The Constitution of the United States and the
6 Constitution of Pennsylvania.
7 (v) The Declaration of Independence.
8 (vi) The writings, speeches, documents and proclamations of
9 the founders or Presidents of the United States or the founders
10 or Governors of Pennsylvania.
11 (vii) Opinions of the United States Supreme Court and
12 Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
13 (viii) Acts of the United States Congress and acts of the
14 Pennsylvania General Assembly.
15 (ix) Other historically significant or venerated documents,
16 writings or records.
17 (2) The use, reading or posting of the types of documents,
18 writings and records authorized by this section shall be
19 undertaken for educational purposes only and shall not be used,
20 read from or posted to promote or establish any religion or
21 religious belief.
22 (3) No person may impose content-based censorship of an
23 American or Pennsylvanian historical document, writing or record
24 based on any religious references contained in such document,
25 writing or record.
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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