Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB1226 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	24 LC 49 1687
2	2	House Bill 1226
3	3	By: Representatives Hilton of the 48
4	4	th
5	5	, Townsend of the 179
6	6	th
7	7	, Mathis of the 149
8	8	th
9	9	, Jones of
10	10	the 25
11	11	th
12	12	, Ridley of the 22
13	13	nd
14	14	, and others
15	15	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	16	AN ACT
17	17	To amend Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
18	18	1
19	19	Georgia Annotated, relating to compulsory attendance, so as to provide for public school2
20	20	students to be permitted to attend courses in religious moral instruction provided by a person3
21	21	or organization independently of a public school, subject to certain conditions; to provide for4
22	22	such conditions; to provide for students to receive academic credit for such courses; to5
23	23	require local education agencies to adopt certain policies; to prohibit students who participate6
24	24	in such courses from being counted as absent from school; to provide for a definition; to7
25	25	provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to8
26	26	repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
27	27	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
28	28	SECTION 1.11
29	29	This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Released Time Education Act."12
30	30	H. B. 1226
31	31	- 1 - 24 LC 49 1687
32	32	SECTION 2.
33	33	13
34	34	Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia14
35	35	Annotated, relating to compulsory attendance, is amended by adding a new Code section to15
36	36	read as follows:16
37	37	"20-2-692.4.
38	38	17
39	39	(a) As used in this Code section, the term:18
40	40	(1) 'Local education agency' shall have the same meaning as in Code Section 20-2-167.1.19
41	41	(2) 'Released time course' means a course in religious moral instruction provided by a20
42	42	person or organization independently of a public school.21
43	43	(b) By August 1, 2024, each local education agency shall adopt a policy that excuses22
44	44	students from school to attend a released time course for at least one hour per school week. 23
45	45	Such policy shall require that:24
46	46	(1) The student's parent or legal guardian gives written consent for the student to attend25
47	47	the released time course;26
48	48	(2) The person or organization sponsoring the released time course maintains attendance27
49	49	records and makes them available to the officials of the school in which the student is28
50	50	enrolled;29
51	51	(3)(A) Transportation to and from the location of the released time course, including30
52	52	transportation for students with disabilities, is the responsibility of the student or his or31
53	53	her parent or legal guardian; and32
54	54	(B) If the person or organization sponsoring the released time course is to provide33
55	55	student transportation from school, appropriate consent shall be provided by the student34
56	56	or his or her parent or legal guardian;35
57	57	(4) The person or organization sponsoring the released time course verifies to the local36
58	58	education agency that such person or organization assumes full responsibility for the37
59	59	student at all times such student is participating in a released time course activity,38
60	60	H. B. 1226
61	61	- 2 - 24 LC 49 1687
62	62	including, but not limited to, transportation provided by such person or organization to39
63	63	and from such activity;40
64	64	(5) No local education agency funds except de minimis administrative costs are41
65	65	expended in providing or accommodating the released time course;42
66	66	(6) Released time courses are not to be held on public school property unless permitted43
67	67	under a neutral policy of equal access opening such school property for use by44
68	68	community groups; and45
69	69	(7) The student assumes responsibility for any missed school work.46
70	70	(c) Each local education agency may adopt a policy that awards academic credit for the47
71	71	completion of a released time course. In determining the academic credit to award for48
72	72	completion of such course, the local education agency shall evaluate the course based on49
73	73	purely secular criteria that are substantially the same criteria used to evaluate similar50
74	74	courses for purposes of determining the academic credit to award for such courses. The51
75	75	decision to award academic credit for a released time course shall be neutral to, and shall52
76	76	not involve any test for, religious content or denominational affiliation. Such secular53
77	77	criteria shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:54
78	78	(1) The number of hours of classroom instruction time;55
79	79	(2) A review of the released time course syllabus that reflects released time course56
80	80	requirements and materials used;57
81	81	(3) The methods of assessment used in the released time course; and58
82	82	(4) The qualifications of the released time course instructor, which shall be similar to the59
83	83	qualifications of teachers employed by the local education agency.60
84	84	(d) While in attendance in a released time course, a student shall not be considered absent61
85	85	from school."62
86	86	H. B. 1226
87	87	- 3 - 24 LC 49 1687
88	88	SECTION 2.
89	89	63
90	90	This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law64
91	91	without such approval.65
92	92	SECTION 3.66
93	93	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.67
94	94	H. B. 1226
95	95	- 4 -