A bill would spend $2.8-million to make Old Glory standard equipment in Florida classrooms.
By ANITA KUMAR
Published April 30, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - Mike Fasano made a discovery last year: Some Florida classrooms did not have an American flag.
So the New Port Richey Republican senator decided to do something about it.
The result: legislation sent to the governor Thursday requiring a flag in every classroom.
Not just public schools classrooms. Every community college and state university, too.
And not just any American flag. Each must be 2 feet by 3 feet, properly erected on a pole and made in the United States.
The estimated price tag: $2.8-million.
"I was quite shocked that there were schools funded by public dollars that did not have a United States flag in their classrooms," said Fasano, a Republican and a bill sponsor.
The bill, which must be signed by the governor to become law, requires schools to solicit donations from businesses or nonprofit groups before asking for state money to buy the flags.
The bill (HB 1757) passed the Senate Thursday, and the House earlier in the week. Both chambers voted unanimously.
It is called the Carey Baker Freedom Flag Act after a House member who served in Iraq.
Based on an estimate of $17.50 each, legislators say it would cost $2.7-million to display flags in all 156,000 public school classrooms and almost $100,000 to erect 2,000 at the 28 community colleges and 11 public universities.
The bill calls for the flags to be in place by August 2005.
