Gov. Bevin signs SB 17, protecting religious expression in public schools

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – On March 16th, Governor Matt Bevin signed Senate Bill 17 into law.

The bill, designed to protect religious expression in public schools, is known as the “Charlie Brown law,” after a Kentucky school cut a bible verse from their production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

The bill prevents school officials from regulating student organizations, including the selection of members and “doctrines and principles.”

LGBT advocates say the bill could give student groups a license to discriminate.

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3/7/17 7:16 p.m.

Lawmakers OK bill to protect religious expression in schools

A bill headed to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s desk is designed to protect religious expressions in public schools but has LGBT advocates worried it will give student groups a license to discriminate.

Senate Bill 17 passed the state House of Representatives by a vote of 81-8 on Monday. It would prohibit school officials from punishing students for wearing religious messages on their clothes and expressing religious or political beliefs in homework, artwork and speeches.

It would also prevent school officials from regulating student organizations, including the selection of members and “doctrines and principles.”

Human Rights Campaign Legal Director Sarah Warbelow said the bill would allow student groups to discriminate against LGBT students “under the guise of religion.”

Republican state Rep. John Blanton said the bill just guarantees students First Amendment rights.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.