Provides that public school boards may adopt a policy to authorize released time for K-12 public school students, subject to parental approval. (gov sig)

SB 112 Original 2026 Regular Session Hodges

Proposed law provides that each school board may adopt a policy that allows students, subject to parental approval, to attend a released time course. Proposed law defines "released time course" as a course in religious instruction taught by a sponsoring entity in which a student is allowed to attend, subject to approval by the child's parent or legal guardian.

Proposed law provides that the legislature finds, as follows:

(1) In 1952, the United States Supreme Court ruled that public schools may release students during school hours for off-campus religious instruction, provided that there is parental consent and that the program is not publicly funded.

(2) That the La. Children's Code declares that the people of La. recognize the family as the most fundamental unit of human society; that preserving families is essential to a free society; that the relationship between parent and child is preeminent in establishing and maintaining the well-being of the child; that parents should make the decisions regarding the educational, moral, ethical, and religious training of the child.

(3) As interest in released time for religious instruction grows across our state, legislation is needed to show support for parents' rights to request released time.

Proposed law defines a "sponsoring entity" of a course to mean a church or other religious organization that is IRS tax exempt and that receives authorization from the school board to operate a released time course.

Proposed law defines "department", "parent", "school board", "school", and "student adult".

Proposed law provides that the school is free from liability for any injury that occurs while the student is off campus at a released time course or being transported to the course.

Proposed law provides that a criminal background check shall be conducted on each instructor of the released time course.

Proposed law provides that the written parental consent or authorization to attend the released time course is to include a notice that contains all of the following:

(1) That the school and school board has no liability for any injury that occurs while the student is at an off-campus released time course.

(2) That the school and school board has no liability for the transportation to or from the released time course.

(3) That the sponsoring entity is responsible for any liability associated with the released time course.

(4) That any liability for injuries that occur during the transportation to or from the released time course shall be solely the responsibility of the sponsoring entity, the parent, or whoever the parent authorized to transport the child.

Proposed law provides that the sponsoring entity of the released time course maintains attendance records and makes them available to the school that the student attends.

Proposed law provides that released time course is to be between one and five hours a school week and that if the student is absent from the course or not at school, then the student will be counted absent for truancy purposes.

Proposed law provides that the La. Dept. of Education is to provide a course credit code that participating schools may use to award academic credit for the completion of a released time course or the schools may use the academic credit for the course taught on the history and literature of the Bible, under present law.

Proposed law provides that the released time courses are not to be held on school property unless permitted under a neutral policy of equal access that opens school property for use by secular community groups.

Proposed law provides that proposed law is to be known as and maybe cited as the "School Released Time Education Act".

Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

(Adds R.S. 17:288.1-288.4 and R.S. 17:3996(B)(92))