Bill > SB112

This bill, known as the "School Released Time Education Act," allows public school boards in Louisiana to establish policies permitting K-12 students to attend off-campus religious instruction courses during school hours, provided parents give written consent. The legislation clarifies that public schools can allow this "released time" for religious education, building on a 1952 Supreme Court ruling and emphasizing parental rights in a child's upbringing. The bill defines key terms like "parent," "released time course," and "sponsoring entity" (a tax-exempt religious organization). It requires sponsoring entities to maintain insurance for transportation and conduct criminal background checks on instructors, while also outlining that schools and school boards are not liable for injuries occurring during these off-campus courses or transportation, with liability resting solely with the sponsoring entity or authorized transporters. The act also addresses academic credit for these courses and ensures that schools cannot discriminate against sponsoring entities if they allow other community groups to use school property under equal access policies. Finally, it explicitly states that charter schools will also be subject to these released time provisions.