No. SB 1006
Filed under Education.
Freedom of Speech and Religious Expression in Public Schools; Prohibiting a school district from discriminating against students or school personnel on the basis of political or ideological viewpoints or expression; authorizing students to express political or ideological beliefs in coursework, artwork, and other specified assignments; authorizing a student to wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry displaying political or ideological messages or symbols; authorizing political or ideological groups to advertise or announce meetings in the same manner and to the same extent as other groups; creating a private cause of action for persons and student clubs or groups harmed by specified violations, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDSchools must treat political and ideological speech identically to religious speech, prohibiting discrimination or academic penalties based on viewpoint.
Students may wear political clothing and organize political clubs, with schools required to provide equal access to facilities and advertising opportunities.
The bill creates a private right to sue schools for violations, awarding mandatory punitive damages of $15,000 to $25,000 to prevailing plaintiffs.
Schools retain the authority to restrict speech that is severely offensive, causes substantial disruption, or is not protected by the First Amendment.
AISchool districts are forbidden from discriminating against or penalizing students for expressing religious, political, or ideological viewpoints in the same time, place, and manner as other students.
AIStudent homework and classroom assignments must be evaluated based on academic standards, regardless of religious, political, or ideological content, and students may not be penalized or rewarded for that content.
AIStudents may wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry displaying religious, political, or ideological messages or symbols to the same extent that other types of expressive clothing are permitted.
AISchool districts must provide religious, political, or ideological groups access to school facilities and advertising opportunities in the same manner as other groups, without discrimination based on content.
AIIndividuals or student groups harmed by violations may sue for declaratory and injunctive relief, statutory punitive damages of $15,000 to $25,000, and attorney fees, with a two-year statute of limitations.
AIThe state waives Eleventh Amendment immunity, allowing school districts to be sued in federal court for violations of this section.
AISchool districts may prohibit or limit expression that is not protected by the First Amendment, constitutes severe and pervasive harassment, or intentionally and substantially disrupts school operations or reserved expressive activities.