HB1352: HB1352 Student Character Development Act; enact

26 LC 49 2528 House Bill 1352 By: Representatives Hilton of the 48th, Jones of the 25th, Chastain of the 7th, Gambill of the 15th, and Burchett of the 176th 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 atte nd 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 provide for definitions; to provide for a8 short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting9 laws; and for other purposes.10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11 SECTION 1.12 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Student Character Development Act."13 H. B. 1352 - 1 - 26 LC 49 2528 SECTION 2.14 Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of t he Official Code of Georgia15 Annotated, relating to compulsory attendance, is amended by adding a new Code section to16 read as follows:17 "20-2-692.5.18 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:19 (1) 'Local education agency' shall have the same meaning as in Code Section 20-2-167.1.20 (2) 'Released time course' means a course in religious moral instruction provided by an21 individual or organization independently of a public school.22 (b) By August 1, 2026, each local education agency shall adopt a policy that permits all23 students to be excused from school to attend a released time course for at least one hour per24 school week. Such policy shall require that:25 (1) The student's parent or legal guardian gives written consent for the student to attend26 the released time course;27 (2) The individual or organization providing the released time course maintains28 attendance records and makes such records available to the offi cials of the school in29 which the student is enrolled;30 (3)(A) Transportation to and from the location of the released time course, including31 transportation for students with disabilities, is the responsibility of the student or his or32 her parent or legal guardian; and33 (B) If the individual or organization providing the released time course is to provide34 student transportation from school, appropriate consent shall b e provided by the35 student's parent or legal guardian;36 (4) The individual or organization providing the released time course verifies to the local37 education agency that such individual or organization assumes full responsibility for the38 student at all times such student is participating in a release d time course activity,39 H. B. 1352 - 2 - 26 LC 49 2528 including, but not limited to, transportation provided by such individual or organization40 to and from such activity;41 (5) Except as necessary to award academic credit for the completion of a released time42 course, as provided for in subsection (c) of this Code section, no local education agency43 funds except de minimis administrative costs are expended in pr oviding or44 accommodating the released time course;45 (6) Released time courses are not to be held on public school property unless permitted46 under a neutral policy of equal access opening such school prop erty for use by47 community groups; and48 (7) The student assumes responsibility for any missed school work.49 (c) A local education agency may adopt a policy that provides for academic credit to be50 awarded for the completion of a released time course. In determining the academic credit51 to award for completion of such course, the local education age ncy shall evaluate the52 course based exclusively on secular criteria that are substantially the same criteria used to53 evaluate similar courses for purposes of determining the academic credit to award for such54 courses. The decision to award academic credit for a released time course shall be neutral55 to, and shall not involve any test for, religious content or denominational affiliation. Such56 secular criteria may include the following:57 (1) The number of hours of classroom instruction time;58 (2) A review of the released time course syllabus that reflect s released time course59 requirements and materials used;60 (3) The methods of assessment used in the released time course; and61 (4) The qualifications of the released time course instructor.62 (d) While in attendance in a released time course, a student shall not be considered absent63 from school.64 (e)(1) The Department of Education is authorized and directed to take all steps65 reasonably necessary to maximize the amounts of state and feder al funding local66 H. B. 1352 - 3 - 26 LC 49 2528 education agencies receive regardless of the number of students who participate in a67 released time course.68 (2) The Department of Education shall promulgate model policie s and procedures69 consistent with this Code section to be available for use by local education agencies."70 SECTION 3.71 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law72 without such approval.73 SECTION 4.74 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.75 H. B. 1352 - 4 -