Signed by Governor Brad Little

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes provisions regarding prayer in public.

Highlights:

• Establishes this law as Coach Kennedy’s Law (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that the United States is a constitutional republic that Idaho is a part of and that the free exercise clause and establishment clause of the first amendment prohibits the government from the free exercise of religious practices (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that the Idaho state constitution mirrors this as well (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that the Lemon test is no longer applicable to public religious practice (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes any employee of a public college, school district or charter school to pray at any time when he is free to engage in personal conversations or other personal conduct (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any public college, school district, or charter school from punishing action or discriminating against any other person for refusing to participate in prayer (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that if a school district prohibits an employee from engaging in the above activity then the employee may pursue a civil cause of action in a court and may seek relief (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that if a civil action was maliciously filed or initiated for ulterior purposes against a defendant then the court may award costs and attorneys fees to the defendant (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that nothing in this section shall be construed to in any way limit the free exercise of religion (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes provisions regarding prayer in public.

Highlights:

• Establishes this law as Coach Kennedy’s Law (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that the United States is a constitutional republic that Idaho is a part of and that the free exercise clause and establishment clause of the first amendment prohibits the government from the free exercise of religious practices (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that the Idaho state constitution mirrors this as well (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that the Lemon test is no longer applicable to public religious practice (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes any employee of a public college, school district or charter school to pray at any time when he is free to engage in personal conversations or other personal conduct (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any public college, school district, or charter school from punishing action or discriminating against any other person for refusing to participate in prayer (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that if a school district prohibits an employee from engaging in the above activity then the employee may pursue a civil cause of action in a court and may seek relief (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that if a civil action was maliciously filed or initiated for ulterior purposes against a defendant then the court may award costs and attorneys fees to the defendant (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that nothing in this section shall be construed to in any way limit the free exercise of religion (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text