The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Judiciary
BILL: CS/SB 282
INTRODUCER: Judiciary Committee; and Senators Baxley and Albritton
SUBJECT: Moments of Silence in Public Schools
DATE: March 30, 2021 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Brick Bouck ED Favorable
2. Ravelo Cibula JU Fav/CS
3. RC
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SB 282 requires a moment of silence to be set aside for students during each school day.
The bill revises current law that allows a district school board to set aside a brief period of time
for silent prayer or meditation. Instead, the bill requires each teacher during 1st period to set
aside 1 to 2 minutes for a moment of silence. A teacher may not make suggestions as to the
nature of any reflection, and a student may not interfere with another student’s participation.
The bill has no impact on state revenues or expenditures.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
II. Present Situation:
District school boards may set aside up to two minutes for silent prayer or meditation at the start
of each school day or each school week in the public schools in the district.1
1
Section 1003.45, F.S., added in s. 1, ch. 80-336, L.O.F.
BILL: CS/SB 282 Page 2
Fourteen states require a moment of silence or a period for contemplation or prayer during each
school day.2 An additional eighteen states authorize the school district, school, or classroom to
observe a period of silence or prayer during each school day.3
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
SB 282 amends s. 1003.45, F.S., to require that a moment of silence be set aside for students
during each school day. Currently, a district school board may provide a brief period of
meditation or silent prayer not to exceed two minutes.
The bill directs the principal of each public school to require teachers in first-period classrooms
in all grades to set aside 1 to 2 minutes daily4 for a moment of silence, during which students
may not interfere with other students’ participation.
The bill provides that a teacher:
May not make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in
during the moment of silence.
Must encourage parents or guardians to discuss with their children how best to use the
moment of silence.
The bill provides legislative findings for the value of a moment of daily reflection.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
2
Ala. Code s. 16-1-20; Ark. Code Ann. s. 6-10-115; Conn. Gen. Stat. s. 10-16a; Ga. Code Ann. s. 20-2-150; 105 Ill. Comp.
Stat. 20/1; Ind. Code s 20-30-5-4.5; Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 71, s. 1A; Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. s. 388.075; N.H. Rev. Stat. s.
189:1-b; R.I. Gen. Laws s. 16-12-3.1; S.C. Code Ann. s. 59-1-443; Tenn. Code Ann. s. 49-6-1004; Tex. Code Ann.
s. 25.082(d); Va. Code Ann. s. 22.1-203.
3
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. s. 15-342(21); Del. Code Ann. tit. 14, s. 4101A; Section 1003.45, F.S.; Kan. Stat. Ann. s. 72-9929;
Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. s. 158.175; La. Rev. Stat. Ann. s. 17:2115; Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 20-a., s. 4805; Md. Code, Educ. s. 7-
104; Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. s. 380.1565; Minn. Stat. Ann. s. 121A.10; Mont. Code Ann. s. 20-7-112; N.M. Stat. Ann. s.
22-27-3; N.Y. law s. 3029-a; N.C. Gen. Stat. s. 115C-47(29); N.D. Cent. Code s. 15.1-19-03.1; Ohio Rev. Code s. 3313.601;
24 Pa. Const. Stat. s. 15-1516.1; Utah Code Ann. s. 53G-7-207.
4
One to 2 minutes daily accumulates to 3 to 6 hours of instructional time over the course of the school year. Florida
Department of Education, Senate Bill 282 Agency Analysis (December 18, 2020), p. 3-4.
BILL: CS/SB 282 Page 3
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 1003.45, Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Judiciary on March 29, 2021:
The committee substitute revises the requirement that teachers make suggestions as to the
best use of the moment of silence. Instead, a teacher must encourage parents or guardians
to discuss with their children how best to use the moment of silence.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Statutes affected: S 282 Filed: 1003.45
S 282 c1: 1003.45