Public School Religious Bill of Rights Introduced In Colorado

Yesterday's Colorado Springs Gazette reports that state Senator Dave Schultheis has introduced SB07, the "Religious Bill of Rights for Individuals Connected with Public Schools Act", into the Colorado Legislature. Here is a summary of what the far-reaching bill would do, taken from a more extensive discussion of it on Sen. Schultheis' website:

Requires the state board of education to adopt a religious bill of rights for public school students and parents and a religious bill of rights for public school teachers and employees.

Directs the state board to distribute the religious bills of rights to school district boards of education.

Mandates each local board to adopt policies and procedures to implement the act, including the annual distribution of the religious bills of rights to students, parents, teachers, and employees of the school district. Directs local boards of education to provide opt out provisions to individuals for classes or course materials that are in conflict with the individual's religious beliefs.

Makes individual members of local boards personally liable for lawsuits brought under the act if the local board fails to adopt policies and procedures to implement the act or to ensure compliance with the act.