Rick Scott Signs Bill Allowing Student-Led School Prayer

School districts across Florida will get to decide if their students can give prayers and other inspirational messages at school events as long as school district employees are not involved.

Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 98 Friday. It becomes law July 1.

The bill, opposed primarily by Democrats during the legislative session, was sponsored by Gary Siplin, D-Orlando.

After the bill was signed, the Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union sent letters to Floridas 67 school districts declaring their opposition to the law.

Legislators are clearly inviting Florida school boards to plunge into a legal swamp, stated Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, in a release.

I hope school board members turn down the invitation. Its wrong to subject students to coercive prayer and proselytizing. Our public schools should respect diversity, not undermine it.