The proposed bill revises education laws concerning religious instruction released time programs in Montana. It mandates that school district trustees provide a program that allows students to be released from regular school attendance for at least one hour of religious instruction each week, upon written request from a parent or guardian. The bill also authorizes school district trustees to adopt policies that award academic credit for completed religious instruction courses, while ensuring that public school property is not used for religious instruction and that public funds are not allocated for this purpose.

Additionally, the bill outlines that if a school district chooses to award academic credit for a religious instruction course, it must evaluate the course based on secular criteria similar to those used for other courses, without considering religious content or denominational affiliation. The criteria for evaluation may include classroom instruction time, course syllabus review, assessment methods, and instructor qualifications. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-1-308
HB0343_1(1): 20-1-308
HB0343_1(2): 20-1-308
HB0343_1(3): 20-1-308
HB0343_1(4): 20-1-308
HB0343_1(5): 20-1-308
HB0343_1: 20-1-308
HB0343_2(1): 20-1-308
HB0343_2(2): 20-1-308
HB0343_2(3): 20-1-308
HB0343_2(4): 20-1-308
HB0343_2(5): 20-1-308
HB0343_2(6): 20-1-308
HB0343_2(7): 20-1-308
HB0343_2(8): 20-1-308
HB0343_2: 20-1-308