Florida Religion in School Legislation SB 436 Passes
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 states 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 dont 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 wasnt 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