(Virginia) House panel kills bill on religious views at school
Del. Greg Habeeb worried every school event could become a forum on religion.
Posted: Thursday, February 6, 2014 8:10 am
Michael Sluss
The Roanoke Times
RICHMOND — A House of Delegates subcommittee on Wednesday effectively killed legislation that was aimed at protecting the rights of public school students to express religious views at school events, after questions were raised about the need for the bill and potential unintended consequences.
HB 493 is similar to a bill that was passed by the state Senate last month. It was endorsed by the House Education Committee last week, but was met with legal questions Wednesday when it reached a House Courts of Justice subcommittee on constitutional law. The bill effectively died when no one on the subcommittee made a motion to advance it.
The Senate bill (SB 236) remains alive. Its sponsor, Sen. Bill Carrico, R-Grayson County, had hoped his bill would get a friendly reception in the Republican-dominated House of Delegates.
The House bill would require every Virginia school division to adopt a policy permitting student speakers to express religious viewpoints at any school event, such as graduations, in which students are allowed to publicly speak. The events would be designated as “limited public forums.” Principals would be required to provide disclaimers to clarify that school divisions don’t endorse the speakers’ religious views.
http://www.newsadvance.com/news/state/general_assembly/house-panel-kills-bill-on-religious-views-at-school/article_1f2c7658-8f30-11e3-a4ff-001a4bcf6878.html