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.)