RESPECT FOR STUDENT PRAYER/RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY (NEW).

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View NCGA Bill Details2013-2014 Session
Senate Bill 370 (Public) Filed Tuesday, March 19, 2013
AN ACT TO CLARIFY STUDENT RIGHTS TO ENGAGE IN PRAYER AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY IN SCHOOL, TO CREATE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS FOR REMEDYING COMPLAINTS REGARDING EXERCISE OF THOSE STUDENT RIGHTS, AND TO CLARIFY RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL.
Intro. by Bingham, Daniel, Hise.

Status: Ch. SL 2014-13 (Senate Action) (Jun 19 2014)

SOG comments (1):

Long title change

Committee substitute to the 1st edition changed the long title. Original long title was A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO CLARIFY STUDENT RIGHTS TO PRAY IN SCHOOL, TO PROHIBIT PRAYER OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED BY SCHOOLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND TO REQUIRE SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TO DEMONSTRATE APPROPRIATE RESPECT FOR STUDENT-INITIATED AND STUDENT-LED PRAYERS IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.

S 370/S.L. 2014-13

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Jun 19 2014 - View Summary

    AN ACT TO CLARIFY STUDENT RIGHTS TO ENGAGE IN PRAYER AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY IN SCHOOL, TO CREATE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS FOR REMEDYING COMPLAINTS REGARDING EXERCISE OF THOSE STUDENT RIGHTS, AND TO CLARIFY RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL. Enacted June 19, 2014. Effective June 19, 2014.


  • Summary date: Jun 3 2014 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 3rd edition rewrites the severability clause in this act to clarify that if any provision, clause, or sentence of this act or its application is held to be invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect without the invalid provision, clause, sentence, or application.


  • Summary date: May 9 2013 - View Summary

    Senate amendment to the 2nd edition makes the following changes. Deletes the specified grievance steps in GS 115C-407.31(a)-(c) and instead allows the local board of education to establish or make available an existing formal grievance process to allow students or the parents or guardians to present allegations that a right established under the Article has been violated by a public school. Requires the process to include the right of appeal to the local board of education. Specifies the process to be followed if the local board of education does not provide a formal grievance process (this process is identical to the one deleted from subsections a through c).


  • Summary date: May 8 2013 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Deletes the provisions of the 1st edition and replaces it with the following. Enacts new Article 29D, Student Prayer and Religious Activity, in GS Chapter 115C. Requires a student to be allowed to voluntarily perform six activities related to prayer and religious activity, including express religious viewpoints in a public school and possess or distribute religious literature in a public school (subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions), to the same extent and under the same circumstances as permitted on nonreligious topics. Allows a student to be prohibited from engaging in those six actions if the actions would (1) infringe on the rights of the school to maintain order and discipline, prevent disruption of the educational process, and determine educational curriculum and assignments; (2) harass other persons or coerce other students to participate in the activity; or (3) otherwise infringe on the rights of the other persons.

    Provides that if a student alleges that a right under the Article has been violated, a complaint is to be first made to the school's principal, and then to the superintendent if the student's concerns are not resolved by the principal. If the superintendent does not resolve the concerns within 30 days, the student, parent, or guardian may appeal to the local board of education. Allows the student to assert the violation as a cause of action or defense in a judicial proceeding for relief against the local board of education only after exhausting all of those administrative remedies. Requires the Attorney General to intervene and provide legal defense of the Article in an action that challenges the constitutionality of the Article.

    Provides that the Article is not to be construed to support, encourage, or allow a teacher, administrator, or other local board of education employee to lead, direct, or encourage any religious or antireligious activity in violation of the First Amendment. Prohibits local boards from prohibiting school personnel from participating in religious activities on school grounds, initiated by students at reasonable times as long as it is voluntary and does not conflict with the personnel responsibilities. Allows school employees supervising extracurricular activities to be present when students exercise their right to pray and prohibits them from being disrespectful of the student's rights.

    Repeals GS 115C-47(29b), which prohibited a local board of education from having a policy of denying, or that effectively prevents participation in, prayer in public schools by individuals on a voluntary basis, except when necessary to maintain order and discipline, and from encouraging or requiring participation in prayer or influencing the form or content of any prayer in public schools.

    Includes a severability clause.


  • Summary date: Mar 19 2013 - View Summary

    Amends GS 115C-47(29b), establishing that policies of local school boards regarding the free expression of religion should reflect the following: (1) a student is allowed to pray silently at any time or audibly during noninstructional time if the prayer is voluntary and unofficial; (2) prayer officially sanctioned by the school or school officials is not permitted during the school day nor prior to, during, or after extracurricular school events; (3) students may gather for prayers before, during, or after an extracurricular activity, if the prayers are student-initiated and student led and those students voluntarily participate and do not pressure others to participate. School officials may be present and should demonstrate appropriate respect and may adopt a respectful posture.

    Establishes that the provisions should not be construed in a way to direct any action in violation of the Constutions of North Carolina or the United States, including preventing or denying participation in protected prayer in public schools.