HB405: authorizing school districts to authorize a period of time for silent individual reflection in public schools.

HB 405 - AS INTRODUCED

2003 SESSION

03-0429

04/01

HOUSE BILL 405

AN ACT authorizing school districts to authorize a period of time for silent individual reflection in public schools.

SPONSORS: Rep. Flayhan, Rock 80; Rep. Wiley, Rock 77; Rep. Mosher, Hills 63; Rep. Itse, Rock 80; Rep. Reeves, Hills 49

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes school districts to authorize a period of time for silent individual reflections in the public schools.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-0429

04/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT authorizing school districts to authorize a period of time for silent individual reflection in public schools.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 School Districts; Lord's Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance in Public Elementary Schools; Silent Individual Reflections Permitted. Amend RSA 194:15-a to read as follows:

194:15-a Lord's Prayer, Silent Individual Reflections and the Pledge of Allegiance in Public Elementary Schools. As a continuation of the policy of teaching our country's history and as an affirmation of the freedom of religion in this country, a school district may authorize the recitation of the traditional Lord's prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the flag in public elementary schools. In addition, a school district may authorize a period of time, after the recitation of the Lord's prayer and after the pledge of allegiance to the flag, for silent reflections representative of a pupil's personal religious beliefs. Pupil participation in the recitation of the [prayer] prayers and pledge of allegiance shall be voluntary. Pupils shall be reminded that [this] the Lord's prayer is the prayer our pilgrim fathers recited when they came to this country in their search for freedom. Pupils shall be informed that these exercises are not meant to influence an individual's personal religious beliefs in any manner. The exercises shall be conducted so that pupils shall learn of our great freedoms, which freedoms include the freedom of religion and are symbolized by the recitation of the Lord's prayer and other silent religious reflections.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.