Written by Don Byrd
A sharply divided Virginia Senate Health and Education Committee yesterday sent legislation to the full Senate that purports to expand the religious liberty of public school students. SB 236 requires school policies that allow any student speaker at a school event the right to express a religious viewpoint following a disclaimer by the principal that the student’s views do not reflect those of the school.
The Roanoke Times has more:
The measure was introduced by Sen. Bill Carrico, R-Grayson County, a longtime advocate of allowing prayer in public settings. Carrico said his bill is designed to allow students to express religious views while protecting school divisions from lawsuits. Last year, Carrico proposed a state constitutional amendment to protect the rights of individuals and public bodies to pray on public property and protect students from religious discrimination.
“I’ve been trying to do something for 12 years and I just find new ways to do it,” Carrico said.
The state’s ACLU says the bill is unnecessary and will create confusion. Newly elected Virginia Governor Terry McAulliffe says he will “review the bill if the General Assembly passes it.”
You can review it for yourself here.
