MANDATORY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE                                                      S.B. 637 (S-1):

                                                                          SUMMARY AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 637 (Substitute S-1 as passed by the Senate)                                (as enrolled)

Sponsor:  Senator Roger Kahn, M.D.

Committee:  Education

 

Date Completed:  11-14-11

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would amend Section 1347 of the Revised School Code, which requires a school district to purchase and display a United States flag for each school building in the district.  The bill would further require the board of a school district or intermediate district or the board of directors of a public school academy to ensure that each pupil was required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States each day.  However, the bill provides that a student could not be compelled to recite the Pledge against the pupil's or parent's objections, and the board would have to ensure that the pupil was not subject to any penalty or bullying if he or she did not recite the pledge.  The bill also would require that the board ensure that a United States flag was displayed in each classroom in which pupils were required to recite the pledge.

 

MCL 380.1347                                                                                                           

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

If a district, intermediate district, or public school academy had to purchase additional flags in order to have a flag available in each room in which students were required to recite the pledge, then there would be additional costs to those entities.

 

                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:  Kathryn Summers

 

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.