HB 190 - AS INTRODUCED
2001 SESSION
04/09
HOUSE BILL 190
AN ACT relative to prayer in the public schools.
SPONSORS: Rep. Itse, Rock 11; Rep. Matthew Quandt, Rock 20; Rep. Marshall Quandt, Rock 20; Rep. G. Katsakiores, Rock 13; Rep. Nowe, Rock 3
This bill permits school districts to authorize an additional period of time, after the recitation of the Lord's prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the flag, for silent reflections representative of a pupil's personal religious beliefs.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
01-0057
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One
AN ACT relative to prayer in the 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.