By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
A Kentucky Senate bill that would add moments of silence and “moral instruction” has made it to the governor’s desk.
Before the legislature broke on March 14 for the ten-day veto period, wherein Governor Andy Beshear has the option to either veto the bill or make it law with his signature, several education-related bills made it to the last hurdle in the legislative process. Among those bills is Senate Bill 19 which requires “a moment of silence or reflection” to be observed at the beginning of the public school day lasting “at least one minute, but not exceed[ing] two minutes.”
“The policy shall prohibit district personnel from providing instruction to any student regarding the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence or reflection,” the current bill states. “The policy shall require notification be sent to parents or guardians providing information on the policy and encouraging parents and guardians to provide guidance to their pupils regarding the moment of silence or reflection.”
A House committee substitution also includes in the bill the opportunity for local school boards to “attend moral instruction” that will be excused “up to one hour on no more than one day each week.”
It specifies that the instruction is not to occur on school property, and is voluntary; a student who opts not to attend “shall remain in school during the time when the instruction is being given, and shall take noncredit enrichment courses or participate in educational activities not required in the regular curriculum [like] study hall, computer instruction, music, art, library, physical education and tutorial assistance.”
Barren County Senator David Givens voted for the original bill and the amended version. Barren County Representative Steve Riley was one of the nine House member to not vote on the bill, according to the Legislative Research Commission.
The full bill can be read here.
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