SB 11 —

Compared against the Texas statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 2 section(s) of the Texas statutes: Section 25.0823, Education Code, Section 25.901, Education Code.

• Section 25.0823, Education Code

  Sec. 25.0823. PERIOD OF PRAYER AND READING OF BIBLE OR OTHER RELIGIOUS TEXT. (a) The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school that is not operated by or affiliated with a religious organization may by record vote on a resolution described by Subsection (a-1) adopt a policy requiring every campus of the district or school to provide students and employees with an opportunity to participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text on each school day in accordance with this section. (a-1) A resolution to adopt a policy under Subsection (a) must read as follows: "The (insert name of school district or open-enrollment charter school) shall adopt a policy requiring every campus of (insert name of district or school) to provide a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text as provided by Section 25.0823, Education Code." (b) A policy adopted under Subsection (a) must: (1) prohibit a student or employee of the school district or open-enrollment charter school from being permitted to participate in the period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text unless the employee or parent or guardian of the student submits to the district or school a signed consent form that includes: (A) an acknowledgment that the student or employee has a choice as to whether to participate in the period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text; (B) a statement that the person has no objection to the student's or employee's participation in or hearing of the prayers or readings offered during the period; and (C) an express waiver of the person's right to bring a claim under state or federal law arising out of the adoption of a policy under this section, including a claim under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or a related state or federal law, releasing the district or school and district or school employees from liability for those claims brought in state or federal court; (2) prohibit the provision of a prayer or reading of the Bible or other religious text over a public address system; and (3) specify that a period of prayer or reading of the Bible or other religious text may not be a substitute for instructional time. (c) An employee or parent or guardian of a student may revoke the person's consent provided under Subsection (b)(1) by informing the appropriate school administrator, as determined by the school district or open-enrollment charter school. An employee or student for whom consent has been revoked under this subsection: (1) may not participate in the period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text until the employee or parent or guardian of the student submits to the district or school a new consent form under Subsection (b)(1); and (2) remains bound by the waiver described by Subsection (b)(1)(C). (d) A policy adopted under Subsection (a): (1) must include provisions ensuring a prayer or reading of the Bible or other religious text is not provided in the physical presence of, within the hearing of, or in another manner which would constitute an injury in fact within the meaning of the United States or Texas Constitution on a person for whom a signed consent form has not been submitted under Subsection (b)(1) or has been revoked under Subsection (c); and (2) in order to comply with this subsection, may require that the period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text be provided: (A) before normal school hours; (B) only in classrooms or other areas in which a consent form under Subsection (b)(1) has been submitted for every employee and student, which may include an entire school district or open-enrollment charter school campus if a consent form has been submitted for each employee and student at the campus; or (C) by any other method recommended by the attorney general or legal counsel for the district or school. (e) T

  added

• Section 25.901, Education Code

  , encourage,

  amended