Florida Senate - 2011                                     SB 700
       
       
       
       By Senator Siplin
       
       
       
       
       19-00296B-11                                           2011700__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to education; authorizing district
    3         school boards to adopt resolutions that allow prayers
    4         of invocation or benediction at secondary school
    5         events; providing legislative intent; providing for
    6         severability; providing an effective date.
    7  
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Any district school board may adopt a resolution
   11  allowing the use of an inspirational message, including prayers
   12  of invocation or benediction, at secondary school commencement
   13  exercises or any other noncompulsory student assembly. The
   14  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) All prayers of invocation or benediction will 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.