HOUSE BILL NO. 1262 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE BLACK.
2499H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 160, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to awareness of religious liberty in educational settings.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 160, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 160.2501, to read as follows: 160.2501. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Missouri 2 Religious Liberty in Schools Awareness Act". 3 2. Each public school shall post a statement containing the following or 4 substantially similar information: 5 The Missouri Religious Liberty in Schools Awareness Act 6 requires that students and employees of public schools that are 7 operated at public expense be advised and encouraged regarding 8 constitutional rights and liberties in the educational setting that 9 are consistent with the First Amendment to the United States 10 Constitution. 11 For public school students, such rights and liberties include, but 12 are not limited to, that a student may, in a manner that does not 13 interrupt or displace the educational mission of the public school: 14 Express the student's beliefs about religion to others; 15 Pray or engage in religious expression or read the student's Bible 16 or other religious text during free time including, but not limited 17 to, in the classroom;
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 1262 2
18 When relevant to the subject matter, express the student's beliefs 19 about religion in a class assignment; and 20 Form and organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and other 21 religious gatherings if other secular groups, clubs, and gatherings 22 are permitted. 23 For public school employees, such rights and liberties include, but 24 are not limited to, that an employee may, in a manner that does 25 not interrupt or displace the educational mission of the public 26 school: 27 Respectfully discuss the employee's faith with other school 28 employees; 29 When relevant to the subject matter, discuss the influence of 30 religion on history and culture; 31 Enjoy the accommodation of the employee's religious beliefs as 32 required by law; 33 Sponsor student religious clubs if secular student clubs are 34 sponsored; and 35 Enjoy freedom from religious discrimination as provided by law. 36 3. (1) The statement required to be posted under this section shall be posted in a 37 prominent location in each of such public school's buildings in which the academic 38 instruction of students actually and regularly occurs. 39 (2) Such statement shall be posted in a similar form and manner as other 40 information required by law is posted. 41 4. The provisions of this section shall be construed to be consistent and in 42 conjunction with section 160.2500. ✔
Statutes affected: