Senate Bill No. 112, known as the "School Released Time Education Act," allows public school boards in Louisiana to adopt policies permitting K-12 students to participate in released time courses for religious instruction, contingent upon parental approval. The bill outlines that these courses must be taught by a sponsoring entity, such as a church or religious organization, and emphasizes the necessity of written consent from parents or legal guardians. It also establishes that schools and school boards will not be held liable for any injuries occurring during these off-campus courses or during transportation to and from them. Additionally, the bill mandates that criminal background checks be conducted on instructors of the released time courses.

The legislation further stipulates that the Louisiana Department of Education will provide a course credit code for schools to award academic credit for completed released time courses. It specifies that these courses should not exceed five hours per week and that students will be marked absent if they do not attend the course or school. The bill also includes provisions for maintaining attendance records and ensures that released time courses are not conducted on school property unless allowed under a neutral policy that permits equal access for community groups. Overall, the bill aims to support parental rights in education while establishing clear guidelines and protections for all parties involved.