OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 445 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 445’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Cutrona and Click
Effective date:
Mariah M. Maldovan, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Requires school districts to adopt a policy authorizing students to be excused from
school to attend a released time course in religious instruction.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Policy on released time courses in religious instruction
The bill requires, instead of permits, as under current law, school district boards of
education to adopt a policy authorizing students to attend a released time course in religious
instruction conducted by a private entity off school district property during regular school
hours. The bill maintains existing requirements for such a policy.1
Background
Current law permits a board of education to adopt a policy that authorizes students to
attend a released time course in religious instruction during regular school hours. Under law
unchanged by the bill, excuses from school under a released time policy are to be granted only
if all of the following conditions are met:2
1. The student’s parent or guardian provides written consent;
2. The sponsoring entity maintains attendance records and makes them available to the
student’s school district;
3. The sponsoring entity, parent, guardian, or student, including a student with disabilities,
takes complete responsibility for transportation to and from the place of instruction;
1 R.C. 3313.6022.
2 R.C. 3313.6022(B).
April 4, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
4. The sponsoring entity makes provisions for and assumes liability for the student;
5. No public funds are spent and no public school personnel are involved in providing the
religious instruction; and
6. The student assumes responsibility for any missed schoolwork.
Additionally, under law unchanged by the bill, a student may not be released from a
core curriculum subject course to attend a religious instruction course. Schools cannot consider
students attending a released time course in religious instruction to be absent from school
during such instruction.
Law unchanged by the bill also addresses the ability to earn high school credit for
released time religious instruction and grants school districts, members of boards of education,
and district employees immunity from liability in a civil action for injuries allegedly arising
during a student’s transportation to or from a place of instruction when private transportation
is used under a released time policy.3
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 03-12-24
ANHB0445IN-135/ts
3 R.C. 3313.6022(C) and (D).
P a g e |2 H.B. 445
As Introduced


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3313.6022