From the ECS State Policy Database Religion--Prayer/Meditation

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary FL Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Authorizes a local board to adopt a policy that allows an inspirational message to be delivered by students at a student assembly. Provides policy requirements. http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0098/BillText/er/PDF Title: S.B. 98 Source: www.flsenate.gov IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Postsec. Provides that if a public school, university, or community college holds any type of event at the institution on November 11, Veterans' Day, the governing board of the school or institution must require a moment of silence at that event to recognize Veterans' Day. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB0972lv.pdf Title: H.B. 972 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 10/2007 P-12 Amends the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. Provides that a teacher must observe a brief period of silence at the opening of every school day with the participation of all pupils assembled. Provides that this period may not be conducted as a religious exercise but must be an opportunity for silent prayer or silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day. Bill: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/PDF/09500SB1463lv.pdf Veto message: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/PDF/09500SB1463gms.pdf Title: S.B. 1463 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Provides that state law may not prohibit a private school from conducting a prayer prior to an athletic event held on the campus of the private school; and that athletic teams from public schools cannot be prohibited from participating in an athletic event held on the campus of a private school in this state for the reason that the hosting private school conducts a prayer prior to such athletic event. Bars a state-funded school from participating in, sponsoring, or providing coaching staff for interscholastic sports events conducted under the authority of, conducted under the rules of, or scheduled by any athletic association which prohibits or discourages a private school from conducting a prayer prior to an athletic event held on the campus of the private school. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb678_HB_678_AP_5.htm Title: H.B. 678 Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us IL Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Amends the Silent Reflection Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. Allows students in the public schools to voluntarily engage in individually initiated, non-disruptive prayer that is not sponsored, promoted, or endorsed in any manner by the school or any school employee. Title: H.B. 4117 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet SC Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Authorizes the governing body of a school board or school district to adopt a policy that permits the use of a brief opening or closing message by a student at a high school graduation exercise; provides the conditions under which this message may be delivered; authorizes the governing body of a school board or school district to adopt a policy that permits the use of a brief opening or closing message by a student at athletic or other events. Title: H.B. 4683 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet LA Vetoed 04/2002 P-12 Forbids any public elementary or secondary school student in Bossier Parish to be prohibited from participating in voluntary, student-initiated, student-led prayer at any time before, during or after the school day as long as such prayer is nonsectarian, noncoercive, and nondisruptive. Requires that in the case of any challenge to the constitutionality of this section, all costs of the challenge must be borne by the Bossier Parish School System. Title: H.B. 22A Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet LA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Requires that school prayer or meditation be silent. Title: H.B. 13A Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet ND Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Relates to religious and secular speech in schools and repeals section relating to periods of silence during a school day. Title: H.B. 1437 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MS Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Authorizes a brief period of quiet reflection in public school classrooms; authorizes and directs principals and teachers in public elementary and secondary schools to display the "In God We Trust" motto of the United States of America in each classroom, school auditorium, and cafeteria. Title: H.B. 51 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet