Bill > SB909

This bill, renamed the "Missouri Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools (SPEAKS) Act," aims to protect students' rights to express their religious, political, or ideological viewpoints in public schools. It prohibits schools from discriminating against students based on these viewpoints or their expression, ensuring that such voluntary expressions are treated the same as secular ones. Students can express their beliefs in assignments, artwork, and oral presentations without penalty, as long as their work meets academic standards and is relevant to the curriculum. The bill also allows students to pray and engage in religious, political, or ideological activities and form related clubs to the same extent as other non-religious activities, provided they are not disruptive and do not impede school operations. Furthermore, students can wear clothing displaying these messages or symbols, and schools must establish policies for student speakers at events that do not discriminate based on viewpoint, while also disclaiming school endorsement of student speech. The act clarifies that schools can still prohibit disruptive or unprotected speech, and it provides students and organizations with legal recourse, including monetary damages and attorney fees, if their rights are violated, and waives sovereign immunity for public schools in such cases.

Education

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=288