By: Middleton, et al.  S.B. No. 1396
         (In the Senate - Filed March 1, 2023; March 16, 2023, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 12, 2023,
  reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
  following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 2; April 12, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1396 By:  Flores
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other
  religious text in public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 25.0823 to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.0823.  PERIOD OF PRAYER AND READING OF BIBLE OR OTHER
  RELIGIOUS TEXT. (a)  The board of trustees of a school district or
  the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school that is not
  operated by or affiliated with a religious organization may by
  record vote adopt a policy requiring every campus of the district or
  school to provide students and employees with an opportunity to
  participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other
  religious text on each school day in accordance with this section.
         (b)  A policy adopted under Subsection (a) must prohibit:
               (1)  a student or employee of the school district or
  open-enrollment charter school from being permitted to participate
  in the period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious
  text unless the employee or parent or guardian of the student
  submits to the district a signed consent form that includes:
                     (A)  an acknowledgment that the student or
  employee has a choice as to whether to participate in the period of
  prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text;
                     (B)  a statement that the person has no objection
  to the student's or employee's participation in or hearing of the
  prayers or readings offered during the period; and
                     (C)  an express waiver of the person's right to
  bring a claim under state or federal law arising out of the adoption
  of a policy under this section, including a claim under the
  Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States
  Constitution or a related state or federal law, releasing the
  district or school and district or school employees from liability
  for those claims brought in state or federal court; and
               (2)  the provision of a prayer or reading of the Bible
  or other religious text over a public address system.
         (c)  An employee or parent or guardian of a student may
  revoke the person's consent provided under Subsection (b)(1) by
  informing the appropriate school administrator, as determined by
  the school district or open-enrollment charter school.  An employee
  or student for whom consent has been revoked under this subsection:
               (1)  may not participate in the period of prayer and
  reading of the Bible or other religious text until the employee or
  parent or guardian of the student submits to the district or school
  a new consent form under Subsection (b)(1); and
               (2)  remains bound by the waiver described by
  Subsection (b)(1)(C).
         (d)  A policy adopted under Subsection (a):
               (1)  must include provisions ensuring a prayer or
  reading of the Bible or other religious text is not provided in the
  physical presence of, within the hearing of, or in another manner
  which would constitute an injury in fact within the meaning of the
  United States or Texas Constitution on a person for whom a signed
  consent form has not been submitted under Subsection (b)(1) or has
  been revoked under Subsection (c); and
               (2)  in order to comply with this subsection, may
  require that the period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other
  religious text be provided:
                     (A)  before normal school hours;
                     (B)  only in classrooms or other areas in which a
  consent form under Subsection (b)(1) has been submitted for every
  employee and student, which may include an entire district or
  school campus if a consent form has been submitted for each employee
  and student at the campus; or
                     (C)  by any other method recommended by the
  attorney general or legal counsel for the district or school.
         (e)  The attorney general, on request from the board of
  trustees of a school district or the governing body of an
  open-enrollment charter school, shall:
               (1)  provide advice on best methods for a district or
  school to comply with the requirements of this section;
               (2)  provide a model consent form that may be used for
  purposes of providing consent under Subsection (b)(1); and
               (3)  defend the district or school in a cause of action
  arising out of the adoption of a policy under Subsection (a).
         (f)  If the attorney general defends a district or school
  under Subsection (e)(3), the state is liable for the expenses,
  costs, judgments, or settlements of the claims arising out of the
  representation. The attorney general may settle or compromise any
  and all claims under this subsection. The state may not be liable
  for any expenses, costs, judgments, or settlements of any claims
  arising out of the adoption of a policy under Subsection (a) against
  a district or school not being represented by the attorney general.
         SECTION 2.  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,
  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.
         SECTION 3.  Each board of trustees of a school district and
  each governing body of an open-enrollment charter school shall take
  a record vote not later than six months after the effective date of
  this Act on whether to adopt a policy requiring every campus of the
  district or school to provide a period of prayer and reading of the
  Bible or other religious text under Section 25.0823, Education
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2023.
 
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