SENATE, No. 2626

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

209th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 8, 2001

Sponsored by:

Senator LEONARD T. CONNORS, JR.

District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)

Senator HENRY P. MCNAMARA

District 40 (Bergen and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Cardinale, Robertson and Cafiero

SYNOPSIS

    Directs DOE to provide to every public school a sign stating the national motto, "In God We Trust," and permits principals and teachers to display additional copies.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    As introduced.

An Act concerning the display of the national motto, "In God We Trust," in public schools and supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. The Department of Education shall make available to every public school a durable poster or framed copy, based upon the availability of funds, displaying the motto of the United States of America, "In God We Trust." The poster or framed copy shall indicate that the statement is the national motto of the United States. Every public school shall display the poster or framed copy in a prominent place within the school.

    b. A principal may, using funds made available through voluntary contributions to the district board of education, display one or more durable posters or framed copies of the motto as prescribed by subsection a. of this section in a prominent place within the school under the principal's supervision, including, but not limited to, the school auditorium, cafeteria, or gymnasium. The principal shall not display a poster or framed copy of the motto within any classroom in the school.

    c. A teacher may, using funds made available through voluntary contributions to the district board of education, display a durable poster or framed copy of the motto as prescribed by subsection a. of this section in the classroom in which the teacher's primary instruction occurs.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill concerns the display of the national motto, "In God We Trust," in public schools. The motto, adopted by the United States Congress in 1956, is codified at 36 U.S.C.A. §302. On July 24, 2000 the U.S. House of Representatives enacted a resolution encouraging the display of the national motto in public buildings throughout the nation. See H. Res. 548, 106th Cong., 2d Sess. (2000).

    This bill would require the Department of Education to provide every public school with either a durable poster or a framed copy of the national motto, based upon the availability of funds, to be displayed in a prominent place within the school. Principals and teachers in public schools could display additional posters or framed copies of the motto using funds made available through voluntary contributions to their district board of education. Principals could place the motto within an area under the principal's supervision, such as the school auditorium, cafeteria, or gymnasium, and teachers could display the motto in their classroom.