On May 12, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed HB 343 (full text) which requires public schools to create released time programs under which a student, on request of their parent or guardian, is released for at least one hour per week to receive off-site religious instruction. The new law makes mandatory released-time programs that previously were optional. Public funds may not be used for the programs. The new law adds an option for schools to award academic credit for released-time religious instruction. Schools must use neutral secular criteria similar to the criteria used for other courses in order to determine the amount of credit to be awarded. ADF issued a press release discussing the new law.
