H-4120.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2948

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State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives Ahern, Bush, Boldt, Mielke, Mulliken, Pearson, Casada, Holmquist, Schindler and Morell

Read first time 02/11/2002.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Providing for a daily observance of a minute of silence in the classroom.

    AN ACT Relating to a minute of silence in the classroom; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:

    In order that the right of every pupil to the free exercise of religion be guaranteed within the schools and that the freedom of each individual pupil be subject to the least possible pressure from the state either to engage in, or to refrain from, religious observation on school grounds, the school board of each school district shall establish the daily observance of one minute of silence in each classroom of the district.

    During such one-minute period of silence, the teacher responsible for each classroom shall take care that all pupils remain seated and silent and make no distracting display to the end that each pupil may, in the exercise of his or her individual choice, meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity that does not interfere with, distract, or impede other pupils in the like exercise of individual choice.

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