Bill > H369

This bill, titled "Protecting the religious freedom of students," proposes to amend Chapter 71 of existing law by adding a new section that requires school districts, starting with the first school year after its passage, to establish and follow a local policy. This policy will create a limited public forum and allow for voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints at school events, graduation ceremonies, in class assignments, and within non-curricular school groups and activities. Importantly, school districts must treat religious expression on topics otherwise permitted in the same way they treat secular or other viewpoints, and they are prohibited from discriminating against students based on their expressed religious views. The policy will also mandate that districts ensure student speakers do not engage in obscene or indecent speech and must include a disclaimer stating that the student's speech is not endorsed or sponsored by the school district.