Senate committee gives favorable report to bill on faith-based instruction during school day, 8-1

A Senate education committee gave SB278 a favorable report, 8-1, after lawmakers debated liability and whether districts should be required to allow faith-based instruction during the school day.

Sen. Shellnut, sponsor of SB278, told the committee the bill returns authority to local school boards and preserves parental and student constitutional rights. “Local boards have the ability to adopt their own policies,” Shellnut said, adding that boards decide whether to award credit, how many hours of instruction are required and which schools may participate.

The bill, Shellnut said, permits faith-based groups to provide instruction off-site or on a modified schedule if a district adopts a policy. “For example, Hoover has implemented this only at the high school level, and other school districts do this at the elementary level,” Shellnut said. He added that nonprofits often raise funds to provide curriculum and that “this does not cost our schools any money.”

Several members pressed the sponsor on liability and program details. One committee member described conversations with superintendents who worried about student supervision if students leave campus for off-site instruction and asked, “Who’s going to bear liability?” Shellnut responded that the sponsor and the entities providing the programs would assume liability and said he would work with colleagues to tighten language if needed.

Other committee members questioned whether the bill’s draft moves from permissive language to a mandate. A committee member said they were concerned about changing “may” to “shall,” and raised constitutional and policy issues around mandating release-time options. Shellnut said the bill is intended to provide local control and flexibility and that he would work with colleagues on amendments.

After the debate, the committee conducted a roll call and the clerk announced the bill was given a favorable report by an 8-1 vote. The bill will advance to the full Senate calendar for further consideration.

The committee discussion included examples of scheduling approaches and background-check expectations: sponsors said districts may adopt narrowly tailored policies (for example, scheduling during library time, lunch, or using a mobile unit parked near a school) and that boards can require background checks or deny credit if a district’s policy so provides.

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Details: The committee’s favorable report does not itself change policy; it moves the measure forward in the legislative process. Committee members asked staff and the sponsor to address liability language and the bill’s use of mandatory phrasing before floor consideration.