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.


LRB099 19948 MLM 44347 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3146LRB099 19948 MLM 44347 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act is
5amended by changing Section 5 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 20/5)
7    Sec. 5. Student prayer. For purpose of this Section,
8"noninstructional time" means time set aside by a school before
9actual classroom instruction begins or after actual classroom
10instruction ends. In order that the right of every student to
11the free exercise of religion is guaranteed within the public
12schools and that each student has the freedom to not be subject
13to pressure from the State either to engage in or to refrain
14from religious observation on public school grounds, students
15in the public schools may, during the school day, during
16noninstructional time, voluntarily engage in individually or
17collectively initiated, non-disruptive prayer or
18religious-based meetings, including without limitation prayer
19groups, B I B L E (Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth)
20clubs, or "meet at the flagpole for prayer" days, that,
21consistent with the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of
22the United States and Illinois Constitutions, are not
23sponsored, promoted, or endorsed, or discouraged in any manner

 

 

SB3146- 2 -LRB099 19948 MLM 44347 b

1by the school or any school employee.
2(Source: P.A. 99-410, eff. 8-20-15.)