By:  Staples                                                      S.B. No. 1839


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to religious speech on a public school campus.                       
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 25.901, Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	Sec. 25.901.  EXERCISE OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PRAY.  A 
public school student has an absolute right to individually, and 
voluntarily, and silently pray or meditate in school in a manner 
that does not disrupt the instructional or other activities of the 
school.  A person may not require, encourage, or coerce a student to 
engage in or refrain from such prayer or meditation during any 
school activity.  A public school student's prayer or meditation is 
a protected form of free speech and subject only to the same time, 
place, and manner restrictions as afforded by the constitution.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.