The Florida Senate

232.39  Secret societies prohibited in public schools.--

(1)  It is unlawful for any person, group, or organization to organize or establish a fraternity, sorority, or other secret society in the state whose membership shall be comprised in whole or in part of pupils enrolled in any public school, whether elementary or secondary, or to go upon any public school premises for the purpose of soliciting any pupils to join such an organization.

(2)  A secret society shall be interpreted to be a fraternity, sorority, or other organization whose active membership is comprised wholly or partly of pupils enrolled in the public schools of the state and which perpetuates itself wholly or partly by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in public schools on the basis of the decision of its membership rather than on the right of any pupil who is qualified by the rules of the school to be a member of and take part in any class or group exercise designated and classified according to sex, subjects included in the course of study, or program of school activities fostered and promoted by the school board and superintendent or by principals of the schools.

(3)  This section shall not be construed to prevent the establishment of an organization which is fostered and promoted by the school authorities, or which is first approved and accepted by the school authorities, and whose membership is selected on the basis of good character, good scholarship, leadership ability, and achievement. Full information regarding the charter, principles, purposes, and conduct of any such accepted organization shall always be available to all students and instructional personnel of any school where same may be organized.

(4)  This section shall not be construed to relate to any junior organization or society sponsored by the Police Athletic League, Knights of Pythias, Oddfellows, Moose, Woodmen of the World, Knights of Columbus, Elks, Masons, B'nai B'rith, Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Associations, Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Associations, Kiwanis, Rotary, Optimist, Civitan, Exchange Clubs, Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, and Florida Federation of Women's Clubs.

History.--s. 1, ch. 21777, 1943; s. 1, ch. 24072, 1947; s. 1, ch. 26987, 1951; s. 1, ch. 28287, 1953; s. 1, ch. 63-63; s. 1, ch. 65-180; s. 1, ch. 68-10; s. 1, ch. 69-300; s. 104, ch. 72-221; s. 3, ch. 82-48.

Note.--Former s. 242.46.