| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to education; authorizing district school |
| 3 | boards to adopt resolutions that allow prayers of |
| 4 | invocation or benediction at secondary school events; |
| 5 | providing legislative intent; providing for severability; |
| 6 | providing an effective date. |
| 7 |
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| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Section 1. Any district school board may adopt a |
| 11 | resolution allowing the use of an inspirational message, |
| 12 | including prayers of invocation or benediction, at secondary |
| 13 | school commencement exercises or any other noncompulsory student |
| 14 | assembly. The resolution must provide that: |
| 15 | (1) The use of a prayer of invocation or benediction is at |
| 16 | the discretion of the student government. |
| 17 | (2) All prayers of invocation or benediction will be given |
| 18 | by student volunteers. |
| 19 | (3) Any prayer of invocation or benediction shall be |
| 20 | nonsectarian and nonproselytizing in nature. |
| 21 | (4) School personnel may not participate in, or otherwise |
| 22 | influence any student in, the determination of whether to use |
| 23 | prayers of invocation or benediction. |
| 24 | Section 2. The purpose of this act is to provide for the |
| 25 | solemnization and memorialization of secondary school events and |
| 26 | ceremonies, and this act is not intended to advance or endorse |
| 27 | any religion or religious belief. |
| 28 | Section 3. If any provision of this act or its application |
| 29 | to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity |
| 30 | does not affect other provisions or applications of the act |
| 31 | which can be given effect without the invalid provision or |
| 32 | application, and to this end the provisions of this act are |
| 33 | severable. |
| 34 | Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |