Bill Text: FL S0282 | 2021 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Moments of Silence in Public Schools
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Failed) 2021-04-30 - Died in Rules, companion bill(s) passed, see HB 529 (Ch. 2021-89) [S0282 Detail]
Download: Florida-2021-S0282-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2021 CS for SB 282 By the Committee on Judiciary; and Senators Baxley and Albritton 590-03551-21 2021282c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to moments of silence in public 3 schools; amending s. 1003.45, F.S.; providing 4 legislative findings; requiring that public school 5 principals require certain teachers to set aside time 6 for a moment of silence at the beginning of each 7 school day; specifying the duration of the required 8 moment of silence; prohibiting teachers from making 9 suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a 10 student may engage in during the moment of silence; 11 deleting a provision authorizing district school 12 boards to provide a brief period of silent prayer or 13 meditation; requiring certain teachers to encourage 14 parents or guardians to discuss with their children 15 how to best use the moment of silence; providing an 16 effective date. 17 18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 19 20 Section 1. Section 1003.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to 21 read: 22 1003.45 Permitting study of the Bible and religion; 23 requiring a moment of silencepermitting brief meditation24period.— 25 (1) The district school board may install in the public 26 schools in the district a secular program of education 27 including, but not limited to, an objective study of the Bible 28 and of religion. 29 (2) The Legislature finds that in today’s hectic society 30 too few persons are able to experience even a moment of quiet 31 reflection before plunging headlong into the activities of daily 32 life. Young persons are particularly affected by the absence of 33 an opportunity for a moment of quiet reflection. The Legislature 34 finds that our youth, and society as a whole, would be well 35 served if students in the public schools were afforded a moment 36 of silence at the beginning of each school day. 37 (3) The principal of each public school shall require 38 teachers in first-period classrooms in all grades to set aside 39 at least 1 minute, butdistrict school boardmayprovide that a40brief period,not more thanto exceed2 minutes, daily,for a 41 momentthe purposeof silence, during which students may not 42 interfere with other students’ participation. A teacher may not 43 make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a 44 student may engage in during the moment of silencesilent prayer45or meditation be set asideat the start of each school dayor46each school week in the public schools in the district. 47 (4) Each first-period classroom teacher shall encourage 48 parents or guardians to discuss with their children how to best 49 use the moment of silence. 50 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.