Bills aim to assure Ohio students’ religious expression at school
By Jim Siegel
The Columbus Dispatch • Tuesday December 2, 2014 7:08 AM
A pair of bills designed to ensure that students have freedom to express religious views while in school passed a House committee yesterday despite concerns by Democrats that they accomplish little but could have unintended consequences.
Current law already prohibits a school district from adopting a policy that promotes religion or prevents a student from expressing religious beliefs — though districts can limit that to noninstructional periods, such as lunch. Current law also allows a local district to provide for a moment of silence each school day for prayer or meditation.
House Bill 303 would permit religious expression “before, during and after school hours in the same manner and to the same extent that a student is permitted to engage in secular activities or expression during corresponding times.”
Schools also would be required to allow students, without penalty, to utilize religion in their homework or other assignments.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/12/02/bills-aim-to-ensure-rights-of-students-on-religion.html
The relevant sections of Bill 303:
Sec. 3320.01. Sections 3320.01, 3320.02, and 3320.03 of the Revised Code shall be collectively known as the "Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act of 2013."
As used in sections 3320.01 to 3320.03 of the Revised Code, "religious expression" includes any of the following:
(A) Prayer;
(B) Religious gatherings, including but not limited to prayer groups, religious clubs, "see you at the pole" gatherings, or other religious gatherings;
(C) Distribution of written materials or literature of a religious nature.
(D) Any other activity of a religious nature, including wearing symbolic clothing or expression of a religious viewpoint, provided that the activity is not obscene, vulgar, offensively lewd, or indecent.
Sec. 3320.02. Notwithstanding section 3313.601 of the Revised Code, a student enrolled in a public school may engage in religious expression before, during, and after school hours in the same manner and to the same extent that a student is permitted to engage in secular activities or expression during corresponding times.
Sec. 3320.03. No school district board of education, governing authority of a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, or governing body of a STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, or board of trustees of a college-preparatory boarding school established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code shall prohibit a student from engaging in religious expression in the completion of homework, artwork, or other written or oral assignments. Assignment grades and scores shall be calculated using ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance, including any legitimate pedagogical concerns, and shall not penalize or reward a student based on the religious content of a student's work.
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=130_HB_303
The relevant sections of Bill 304:
Sec. 3320.01. (A) As used in this section, "religious expression" includes any of the following:
(1) Prayer;
(2) Religious gatherings, including but not limited to prayer groups, religious clubs, "see you at the pole" gatherings, or other religious gatherings;
(3) Distribution of written materials or literature of a religious nature;
(4) Any other activity of a religious nature, including wearing symbolic clothing or expression of a religious viewpoint, provided that the activity is not obscene, vulgar, offensively lewd, or indecent.
(B) A school district, community school established under Chapter 3314., STEM school established under Chapter 3326., or a college-preparatory boarding school established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code shall give the same access to school facilities to students who wish to conduct a meeting for the purpose of engaging in religious expression as is given to secular student groups, without regard to the content of a student's or group's expression.
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=130_HB_304
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