HB4069 H ED AMT 3-6

White  3336

The Committee on Education moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:

Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4069 -- A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-33-1, §18-33-2, §18-33-3, §18-33-4, §18-33-5, §18-33-6, §18-33-7, and §18-33-8, all relating to creating the West Virginia Student Religious Liberties Act; providing that public school district shall not discriminate against students or parents on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression; providing that students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork and other written assignments without being penalized or rewarded; providing that students in public schools may pray or engage in religious activities or religious expression before, during or after the school day; setting forth how a school district is to treat a student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject; allowing students to express their beliefs about religion in assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content; allowing students to organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and religious gatherings to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities and groups; allowing public school students to wear certain items that display religious messages or religious symbols in the same manner and to the same extent that other types of those items that display messages or symbols are permitted; requiring school districts to adopt and implement a policy that includes the establishment of a limited public forum for students speakers and setting forth parameters therefore; allowing for disclaimers by school authorities; providing that the act may not require participation in religious activity or violate a person’s constitutional rights; ensuring that public schools may still maintain order and discipline, protect the safety of students, employees, and visitors of the public school, and adopt and enforce policies and procedures; and providing an effective date.

Adopted

Rejected