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Alabama State Senator Gerald H. Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) has filed a bill for the 2020 Legislation Session that would require school boards across the state to make mandatory the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner at least once a week during school hours and also at school-sanctioned sporting events.

The bill, SB 13, would require the following:

At the commencement of each school-sanctioned sporting event, except that if any part of two or more school-sanctioned sporting events occur on the same day at the same school, a school may choose to broadcast “The Star-Spangled Banner” at only one of the events.

At public K-12 schools, during school hours, at least once per week.

The bill goes on to dictate what version of the Star-Spangled Banner should be played and how it would be played or performed.

From any of the recordings of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that are archived within the Library of Congress which are available on the Library of Congress website.

A local board of education, alternatively, may adopt a policy allowing for any of the following at school-sanctioned sporting events, at schools during school hours, or both: The performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” from original sheet music, archived within the Library of Congress and available on its website, by a school-sanctioned band program. The performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” from original sheet music, archived within the Library of Congress and available on its website, by a school-sanctioned chorale program, vocal group, or vocalist. The performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the body of attendees of the event, to be led by a vocalist selected by the principal of the school hosting the event.

