Religious instruction bill changes significantly in Alabama House committee
A bill intended to force local school boards to give academic credit for religious instruction went through significant changes on Wednesday.
As filed, HB 342, sponsored by Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, required local school boards to give elective credit to students to attend 'religious instruction' outside the classroom.
But DuBose amended the bill to say local school boards 'may' give elective credit. Another amendment allowed local school boards to develop individual policies for religious instruction credit instead of having a single statewide one.
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'I think that makes the bill a stronger bill and will be something that can be implemented easily in our districts and support our parents,' DuBose told the House Education Policy Committee on Wednesday.
State law currently allows boards of education to extend that credit but does not mandate released time religious instruction (RTRI), the subject of DuBose's bill. LifeWise Ministries is one nonprofit that does RTRI.
The ministry teaches students about the Christian Standard Bible 'with a focus on head, heart and hands,' according to its website. In a sample curriculum, it alters the language and organization of Bible lessons so that children can understand it easily.
The legislation only applies to religious instruction, not philosophical like Satanism or atheism, DuBose said.
'This group and other secular groups are philosophical groups: the atheists, those are philosophical groups, not religious,' she said. 'They do not qualify for release time under state law.'
Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, said students can go to church services outside of school time.
'I think some of these school systems that have chosen not to [adopt a policy], I don't think it's because they dislike religious instruction,' Baker said. 'But they more so value that instructional time and they want that quality time.'
DuBose said the legislation provides more access to religious instruction for children that may not have transportation to Wednesday night Bible studies or Sunday services.
'This provides these students with an access to religious education, that their parents approve of, that they may not have access to,' DuBose said.
The committee adopted both amendments to the bill unanimously, but did not vote on the legislation as a whole. Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, the committee chair, said they would take it up in a couple weeks.
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