SB 1142 Summary

• Establishes the "Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act" requiring school districts to treat student religious expression the same as secular expression on permissible subjects without discrimination.

• Mandates school districts adopt a "limited public forum" policy for student speakers at school events, including football games, assemblies, and graduation ceremonies, with selected speakers chosen by neutral criteria.

• Requires school districts to provide written or oral disclaimers stating that student speech does not reflect school district endorsement or sponsorship, particularly at graduation ceremonies.

• Allows students to express religious beliefs in homework and classroom assignments, which must be judged on academic standards of substance and relevance, not penalized or rewarded based on religious content.

• Permits students to organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and religious gatherings with the same access to school facilities as other noncurricular groups, and provides enforcement mechanisms including civil lawsuits for violations.