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Arizona Governor Signs Students' Religious Liberties Act

By Howard M. Friedman

On July 10, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed HB 2357, the Students' Religious Liberties Act. It bars public schools from discriminating against parents or students on the basis of religious viewpoints or expression, including religious viewpoints included in class assignments, artwork or coursework. It provides that students may pray or engage in religious activities or expression before, during and after the school day in the same manner that students are allowed to engage in nonreligious expression or activities.

Students are permitted to wear clothing that displays a religious message, or religious jewelry, to the same extent that clothing or jewelry with other messages or symbols is allowed. The law specifically, though, permits banning of clothing and accessories denoting criminal street gang affiliation. The new law goes on to provide that it shall not be interpreted to require any student to participate in prayer or other religious activity, or to otherwise violate a student's constitutional rights. Finally it requires exhaustion of internal administrative complaint procedures before a parent or student may bring a lawsuit to enforce the provisions of the statute. AP reported on the signing of the bill.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on July 11, 2009 (boomark / email).