ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2189	By:	Moore, Kern, McDaniel (Jeannie), Nelson, Dorman, Faught and McMullen of the House

				and

		Russell of the Senate

An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2001, Section 24-106, which relates to the United States Flag; providing that instruction in the history and etiquette of the United States Flag be given in each grade annually; providing that the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America be recited once daily in a classroom during each school day; providing definition of classroom; amending 25 O.S. 2001, Section 91.2, which relates to the flag of the State of Oklahoma; providing that the official salute to the flag of the State of Oklahoma be recited once daily in a classroom during each school day; providing definition of classroom; declaring the official salute to the flag of the State of Oklahoma; providing that the official salute to the flag of the State of Oklahoma be recited at least once weekly on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives when the Legislature is in session; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2001, Section 24-106, is amended to read as follows:
Section 24-106.  A.  The board of education of every school district in this state shall be required to own and display, either inside or outside each classroom building in the district, a United States Flag.
B.  Instruction in the history and etiquette relating to the United States Flag shall be given in one or more grades each grade annually in the schools in every school district in this state.
C.  Students are authorized to recite, at the beginning of each school day, the The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America as enumerated at 36 U.S.C., Section 172 shall be recited once daily in a classroom during each school day.  Each student shall be informed by posting a notice in a conspicuous place that students not wishing to participate in the pledge shall not be required to do so.
For purposes of this section, “classroom” means any room of a public school where instruction takes place.
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     25 O.S. 2001, Section 91.2, is amended to read as follows:
Section 91.2  A.  It shall be the duty of the district boards or boards of education of every public school in this state, to cause the flag of the State of Oklahoma to be displayed during every school day from a flagstaff or pole, except that the flag need not be displayed in inclement weather.
B.  The official salute to the flag of the State of Oklahoma shall be recited once daily in a classroom during each school day.  Each student shall be informed by posting a notice in a conspicuous place that students not wishing to participate in the pledge shall not be required to do so.  
For purposes of this section, “classroom” means any room of a public school where instruction takes place.
SECTION 3.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 91.4 of Title 25, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The official salute to the flag of the State of Oklahoma is hereby declared to be:
“I salute the flag of the State of Oklahoma.  Its symbols of peace unite all people.”
SECTION 4.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 91.5 of Title 25, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The official salute to the flag of the State of Oklahoma shall be recited at least once weekly on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives by members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives when the Legislature is in session.  Each House member shall be informed by posting a notice in a conspicuous place that members not wishing to participate in the pledge shall not be required to do so.
SECTION 5.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2009.  
Passed the House of Representatives the 12th day of March, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate