24 LC 49 1687
House Bill 1226
By: Representatives Hilton of the 48
th
, Townsend of the 179
th
, Mathis of the 149
th
, Jones of
the 25
th
, Ridley of the 22
nd
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
1
Georgia Annotated, relating to compulsory attendance, so as to provide for public school2
students to be permitted to attend courses in religious moral instruction provided by a person3
or organization independently of a public school, subject to certain conditions; to provide for4
such conditions; to provide for students to receive academic credit for such courses; to5
require local education agencies to adopt certain policies; to prohibit students who participate6
in such courses from being counted as absent from school; to provide for a definition; to7
provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to8
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
SECTION 1.11
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Released Time Education Act."12
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SECTION 2.
13
Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia14
Annotated, relating to compulsory attendance, is amended by adding a new Code section to15
read as follows:16
"20-2-692.4.
17
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:18
(1) 'Local education agency' shall have the same meaning as in Code Section 20-2-167.1.19
(2) 'Released time course' means a course in religious moral instruction provided by a20
person or organization independently of a public school.21
(b) By August 1, 2024, each local education agency shall adopt a policy that excuses22
students from school to attend a released time course for at least one hour per school week. 23
Such policy shall require that:24
(1) The student's parent or legal guardian gives written consent for the student to attend25
the released time course;26
(2) The person or organization sponsoring the released time course maintains attendance27
records and makes them available to the officials of the school in which the student is28
enrolled;29
(3)(A) Transportation to and from the location of the released time course, including30
transportation for students with disabilities, is the responsibility of the student or his or31
her parent or legal guardian; and32
(B) If the person or organization sponsoring the released time course is to provide33
student transportation from school, appropriate consent shall be provided by the student34
or his or her parent or legal guardian;35
(4) The person or organization sponsoring the released time course verifies to the local36
education agency that such person or organization assumes full responsibility for the37
student at all times such student is participating in a released time course activity,38
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including, but not limited to, transportation provided by such person or organization to39
and from such activity;40
(5) No local education agency funds except de minimis administrative costs are41
expended in providing or accommodating the released time course;42
(6) Released time courses are not to be held on public school property unless permitted43
under a neutral policy of equal access opening such school property for use by44
community groups; and45
(7) The student assumes responsibility for any missed school work.46
(c) Each local education agency may adopt a policy that awards academic credit for the47
completion of a released time course. In determining the academic credit to award for48
completion of such course, the local education agency shall evaluate the course based on49
purely secular criteria that are substantially the same criteria used to evaluate similar50
courses for purposes of determining the academic credit to award for such courses. The51
decision to award academic credit for a released time course shall be neutral to, and shall52
not involve any test for, religious content or denominational affiliation. Such secular53
criteria shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:54
(1) The number of hours of classroom instruction time;55
(2) A review of the released time course syllabus that reflects released time course56
requirements and materials used;57
(3) The methods of assessment used in the released time course; and58
(4) The qualifications of the released time course instructor, which shall be similar to the59
qualifications of teachers employed by the local education agency.60
(d) While in attendance in a released time course, a student shall not be considered absent61
from school."62
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SECTION 2.
63
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law64
without such approval.65
SECTION 3.66
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.67
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