A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require display of the national motto AND THE STATE MOTTO in public schools.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  This act shall be known as the "National and State Mottos in Schools Act."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑47(29a) reads as rewritten:
"(29a)	To Require the Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags, the Display of the National and State Mottos, and the Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. – Local boards of education shall adopt policies to do the following:
a.	Require the display of the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom, when available.
b.	Require the display of the national motto, "In God We Trust," and the State motto, "esse quam videri," and its English translation, "To Be Rather Than to Seem," in at least one prominent location of each school, such as an entry way, cafeteria, or other common area. The display shall state each motto and, underneath that motto, designate whether it is the national or State motto.
c.	Require that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance be scheduled on a daily basis.
d.	Provide age‑appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flags, mottos, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
These policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 115C‑218.80 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑218.80.  Display of the United States and North Carolina flags, display of the national and State mottos, and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
(a)	A charter school shall do the following:
(1)	Display the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom, when available.
(2)	Display the national motto, "In God We Trust," and the State motto, "esse quam videri," and its English translation, "To Be Rather Than to Seem," in at least one prominent location of each school, such as an entry way, cafeteria, or other common area. The display shall state each motto and, underneath that motto, designate whether it is the national or State motto.
(3)	Require that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance be scheduled on a daily basis.
(4)	Provide age‑appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flags, mottos, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
(b)	A charter school shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
(c)	If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 116‑69.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 116‑69.1.  Display of the United States and North Carolina flags, display of the national and State mottos, and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
(a)	The school shall do the following:
(1)	Display the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom, when available.
(2)	Display the national motto, "In God We Trust," and the State motto, "esse quam videri," and its English translation, "To Be Rather Than to Seem," in at least one prominent location of the school, such as an entry way, cafeteria, or other common area. The display shall state each motto and, underneath that motto, designate whether it is the national or State motto.
(3)	Require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis.
(4)	Provide instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flags, mottos, and the Pledge of Allegiance. 
(b)	The school shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
(c)	If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 116‑235(i) reads as rewritten:
"(i)	The Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags, Display of the National and State Mottos, and the Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. – The Board of Trustees shall adopt policies to require the following:
(1)	Display of the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom, when available.
(2)	Display of the national motto, "In God We Trust," and the State motto, "esse quam videri," and its English translation, "To Be Rather Than to Seem," in at least one prominent location of the school, such as an entry way, cafeteria, or other common area. The display shall state each motto and, underneath that motto, designate whether it is the national or State motto.
(3)	Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis.
(4)	Instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flags, mottos, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
These policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom."
SECTION 6.  Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑5‑2, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2018‑2019 fiscal year to implement the requirements of this act, including to fund the purchase of supplies for students to create displays or to fund the purchase of mounted plaques.
SECTION 7.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2018, and applies beginning December 1, 2018.