SB3146 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 19948 MLM 44347 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB3146

Introduced 2/19/2016, by Sen. Wm. Sam McCann

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 20/5

Amends the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. Provides that students may participate in certain activities that are not discouraged in any manner by the school or any school employee.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

(105 ILCS 20/5)

Sec. 5. Student prayer. For purpose of this Section, "noninstructional time" means time set aside by a school before actual classroom instruction begins or after actual classroom instruction ends. In order that the right of every student to the free exercise of religion is guaranteed within the public schools and that each student has the freedom to not be subject to pressure from the State either to engage in or to refrain from religious observation on public school grounds, students in the public schools may, during the school day, during noninstructional time, voluntarily engage in individually or collectively initiated, non-disruptive prayer or religious-based meetings, including without limitation prayer groups, B I B L E (Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth) clubs, or "meet at the flagpole for prayer" days, that, consistent with the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the United States and Illinois Constitutions, are not sponsored, promoted, or endorsed, or discouraged in any manner by the school or any school employee.

(Source: P.A. 99-410, eff. 8-20-15.)