Second Regular Session
Sixty-first General Assembly
LLS NO. 980039.01 JAP
HOUSE BILL 981048
STATE OF COLORADO
BY REPRESENTATIVES Hagedorn, Kaufman, Morrison, Reeser, and Takis;
also SENATOR Ament.
EDUCATION
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING A DAILY TIME OF QUIET REFLECTION IN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced
and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
adopted.)
Recognizes the necessity and benefit of allowing
students a period of quiet time at the beginning of each school
day to reflect on their activities. Encourages each school district
to adopt a policy of requiring students to participate in a maximum
of 60 seconds of quiet time at the beginning of each school day
in order to reflect on the activities of the upcoming day. Specifies
that statutory authorization for a period of quiet reflection
does not prevent or limit other activities allowed under the state
or federal constitution. States that the provisions of the act
are severable.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Article 1 of title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
221122. Moment of quiet reflection. (1) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY FINDS THAT THE HECTIC PACE OF TODAY'S SOCIETY PREVENTS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, FROM TAKING THE TIME TO REFLECT ON THEMSELVES AND THEIR ACTIVITIES. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEREFORE FINDS THAT STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SET ASIDE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL DAY DURING WHICH THEY MAY QUIETLY CONSIDER THE ACTIVITIES FACING THEM IN THE COMING DAY.
(2) (a) EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ENCOURAGED TO ADOPT A POLICY UNDER WHICH, IN EACH CLASSROOM AT THE OPENING OF EACH SCHOOL DAY, THE TEACHER IN CHARGE SHALL CONDUCT A BRIEF PERIOD OF QUIET REFLECTION FOR NOT MORE THAN SIXTY SECONDS WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE STUDENTS PRESENT IN THE CLASSROOM.
(b) THE MOMENT OF QUIET REFLECTION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (a) OF THIS SUBSECTION (2) IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AND SHALL NOT BE CONDUCTED AS A RELIGIOUS SERVICE OR EXERCISE BUT SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION ON THE ANTICIPATED ACTIVITIES OF THE DAY.
(c) THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPHS (a) AND (b) OF THIS SUBSECTION (2) SHALL NOT BE INTERPRETED AS PREVENTING STUDENTINITIATED VOLUNTARY PRAYERS AT SCHOOLS OR SCHOOLRELATED EVENTS TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE STATE OR FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
SECTION 2. Severability. If any portion of section 221122, Colorado Revised Statutes, as enacted in this act, is found to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect other provisions of section 221122, Colorado Revised Statutes, as enacted in this act, that can be given effect without the invalid or unconstitutional provision. Therefore, to this end, the provisions of section 221122, Colorado Revised Statutes, as enacted in this act, are declared to be severable.
SECTION 3. Effective date. This act shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninetyday period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state constitution; except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor.