Florida Religion in School Legislation SB 436 Passes

[rug]

May 8, 2017
Tim Peacock

Late on Friday, the Florida legislature passed SB 436 (also known as the “Florida Student and School Personnel Religious Liberties Act”) as a part of a compromise to pass changes to the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Upon becoming law, SB 436 will prohibit Florida public school districts “from discriminating against students, parents, & school personnel on basis of religious viewpoints or expression.”

At the crux of SB 436 is the belief that students, staff and parents in Florida public schools don’t have adequate religious protections. The bill will further strengthen existing law protecting students’ right to pray and form religious themed extracurricular organizations. It also protects students’ rights to use personal religious beliefs in academic school work and to wear religious iconography in classes.

Prior to the passage of SB 436, the majority of this was already protected by existing law.

What wasn’t already protected – and what will now cost the state of Florida thousands in lawsuits to defend the law – are the protections if offers staff and parents and the public ‘forum’ it offers religious beliefs.

http://www.peacock-panache.com/2017/05/florida-school-sb-436-passes-31055.html

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/436/BillText/__/PDF

[Ligyron]

1. 1 step forward, 2 steps back.

I wonder if the Church of Satan and His Handmaiden will demand equal time with the little darlings.