101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4683

 

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Dan Caulkins - La Shawn K. Ford

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-3  from Ch. 122, par. 27-3

    Amends the School Code. Provides that a pupil enrolled in the elementary grades in a public school or other educational institution supported or maintained in whole or in part by public funds shall be required to memorize a passage from the Declaration of Independence prior to completing fifth grade. Inserts the passage from the Declaration of Independence that is required to be memorized. Allows a school or other institution to excuse a pupil from this requirement if the pupil receives special education services and cannot complete this requirement.


LRB101 16835 CMG 66234 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4683LRB101 16835 CMG 66234 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
527-3 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-3)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-3)
7    Sec. 27-3. Patriotism and principles of representative
8government; proper use of flag; method of voting; government -
9Proper use of flag - Method of voting - Pledge of Allegiance;
10Declaration of Independence.
11    (a) American patriotism and the principles of
12representative government, as enunciated in the American
13Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United
14States of America and the Constitution of the State of
15Illinois, and the proper use and display of the American flag,
16shall be taught in all public schools and other educational
17institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by
18public funds. No student shall receive a certificate of
19graduation without passing a satisfactory examination upon
20such subjects.
21    Instruction shall be given in all such schools and
22institutions in the method of voting at elections by means of
23the Australian Ballot system and the method of the counting of

 

 

HB4683- 2 -LRB101 16835 CMG 66234 b

1votes for candidates.
2    (b) The Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited each school
3day by pupils in elementary and secondary educational
4institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by
5public funds.
6    Prior to completing fifth grade, a pupil enrolled in the
7elementary grades in a public school or other educational
8institution supported or maintained in whole or in part by
9public funds shall be required to memorize the following
10passage from the Declaration of Independence:
11    "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
12    created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
13    certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
14    Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these
15    rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving
16    their just powers from the consent of the governed".
17    A school or other institution may excuse a pupil from this
18requirement if the pupil receives services under Article 14 of
19this Code and cannot complete this requirement.
20(Source: P.A. 92-612, eff. 7-3-02.)