HB 309

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to education; authorizing district school
3boards to adopt resolutions that allow prayers of
4invocation or benediction at secondary school events;
5providing legislative intent; providing for severability;
6providing an effective date.
7
8Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10     Section 1.  Any district school board may adopt a
11resolution allowing the use of an inspirational message,
12including prayers of invocation or benediction, at secondary
13school commencement exercises or any other noncompulsory student
14assembly. The resolution must provide that:
15     (1)  The use of a prayer of invocation or benediction is at
16the discretion of the student government.
17     (2)  All prayers of invocation or benediction will be given
18by student volunteers.
19     (3)  Any prayer of invocation or benediction shall be
20nonsectarian and nonproselytizing in nature.
21     (4)  School personnel may not participate in, or otherwise
22influence any student in, the determination of whether to use
23prayers of invocation or benediction.
24     Section 2.  The purpose of this act is to provide for the
25solemnization and memorialization of secondary school events and
26ceremonies, and this act is not intended to advance or endorse
27any religion or religious belief.
28     Section 3.  If any provision of this act or its application
29to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity
30does not affect other provisions or applications of the act
31which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
32application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
33severable.
34     Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.