HB451: HB451 Quality Basic Education Act; local boards shall be authorized to provide instruction in hunting safety in grades six through 12; provide

26 HB 451/SCSFA SENATE SUBSTITUTE TO HB 451 ADOPTED SENATE A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of1 Georgia Annotated, relating to compulsory attendance, so as to provide for public school2 students to be permitted to attend courses in religious moral i nstruction provided by an3 individual or organization independently of a public school, subject to certain conditions; to4 provide for such conditions; to provide for students to receive academic credit for such5 courses; to require local education agencies to adopt certain policies; to prohibit students who6 participate in such courses from being counted as absent from s chool; to provide for7 responsibilities of the Department of Education; to require cri minal records checks; to8 provide for immunity; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for9 related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal co nflicting laws; and for other10 purposes.11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:12 SECTION 1.13 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Student Character Development Act."14 - 1 - 26 HB 451/SCSFA SECTION 2.15 Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of t he Official Code of Georgia16 Annotated, relating to compulsory attendance, is amended by adding a new Code section to17 read as follows:18 "20-2-692.5.19 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:20 (1) 'Local education agency' shall have the same meaning as in Code Section 20-2-167.1.21 (2) 'Released time course' means a course in religious moral instruction provided by an22 individual or organization independently of a public school.23 (b) By August 1, 2026, each local education agency shall adopt a policy that permits all24 students to be excused from school to attend a released time course for at least one hour per25 school week. Such policy shall require that:26 (1) The student's parent or legal guardian gives written consent for the student to attend27 the released time course;28 (2) The individual or organization providing the released time course maintains29 attendance records and makes such records available to the offi cials of the school in30 which the student is enrolled;31 (3)(A) If the released time course is not held on the property of the public school in32 which the student is enrolled, transportation to and from the l ocation of the released33 time course, including transportation for students with disabilities, is the responsibility34 of the student or his or her parent or legal guardian; and35 (B) If the individual or organization providing the released time course is to provide36 student transportation from school, appropriate consent shall b e provided by the37 student's parent or legal guardian;38 (4) The individual or organization providing the released time course verifies to the local39 education agency that such individual or organization assumes full responsibility for the40 student at all times such student is participating in a release d time course activity,41 - 2 - 26 HB 451/SCSFA including, but not limited to, transportation provided by such individual or organization42 to and from such activity;43 (5) Except as necessary to award academic credit for the completion of a released time44 course, as provided for in subsection (d) of this Code section, no local education agency45 funds except de minimis administrative costs are expended in pr oviding or46 accommodating the released time course;47 (6) A local education agency may permit released time courses to be held on public48 school property under a neutral policy of equal access opening such public school49 property for use by community groups; and50 (7) The student assumes responsibility for any missed school work.51 (c) The policy a dopted by a local education agency under subsection (b) of this Code52 section shall include a requirement for a criminal records check of individuals providing53 a released time course to students pursuant to this Code section.54 (d) A local education agency may adopt a policy that provides for academic credit to be55 awarded for the completion of a released time course. In determining the academic credit56 to award for completion of such course, the local education age ncy shall evaluate the57 course based exclusively on secular criteria that are substantially the same criteria used to58 evaluate similar courses for purposes of determining the academic credit to award for such59 courses. The decision to award academic credit for a released time course shall be neutral60 to, and shall not involve any test for, religious content or denominational affiliation. Such61 secular criteria may include the following:62 (1) The number of hours of classroom instruction time;63 (2) A review of the released time course syllabus that reflect s released time course64 requirements and materials used;65 (3) The methods of assessment used in the released time course; and66 (4) The qualifications of the released time course instructor.67 - 3 - 26 HB 451/SCSFA (e) No local education agency or official or employee thereof shall be liable in any civil68 action for injury allegedly arising from a student's transit to or from a released time course69 when private transportation is used under a released time cours e policy adopted under70 subsection (b) of this Code section.71 (f) While in attendance in a released time course, a student shall not be considered absent72 from school.73 (g)(1) The Department of Education is authorized and directed to take all steps74 reasonably necessary to maximize the amounts of state and feder al funding local75 education agencies receive regardless of the number of students who participate in a76 released time course.77 (2) The Department of Education shall promulgate model policie s and procedures78 consistent with this Code section to be available for use by local education agencies."79 SECTION 3.80 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law81 without such approval.82 SECTION 4.83 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.84 - 4 -