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Committee advances bill allowing voluntary school prayer and Bible readings, requires model consent process
Summary
Senate Bill 11 would permit school districts to adopt a voluntary period for prayer and the reading of religious texts during school hours, subject to parental consent and district policy; the committee voted to report the bill to the full Senate after testimony for and against.
The Senate Committee on Education voted to report Senate Bill 11, a measure that would authorize school districts to adopt an optional period for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts during school hours, provided participating students are covered by parental consent and districts follow specified procedures.
Sponsor Sen. Lois Middleton told the committee the bill is meant to “provide space for free expression of religion in our public schools” and that participation would be voluntary and would not supplant instructional time. The bill authorizes districts to adopt a policy authorizing such a period and requires parents to provide consent; it also permits the Attorney General to provide a…
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