Ben Baker's bill to offer elective courses on Bible in public schools passes House 95-52

HB 267, a bill sponsored by freshman Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho, that would allow Missouri public schools to offer elective classes on the Bible, passed the Missouri House today by a 95-52 vote.

The bill's description from the Missouri House web site:

This bill allows a school district to offer an elective social studies unit on the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament of the Bible, or the New Testament of the Bible. The course will include the contents, history, literary style and structure, and influences on society. No requirement shall be made by the district on the text translation students must use. This bill requires that any course offered shall follow applicable laws maintaining religious neutrality, and shall not endorse, favor, promote, or show hostility to any particular religion, nonreligious faith or religious perspective.

 Baker filed two bills in his first session.







The other bill, HB 1139, creates more freedom for those who choose to home school their students.

The bill's description:

This bill changes the laws regarding home school education. The bill prohibits the local prosecuting attorney from reviewing home school records without reasonable suspicion of a violation of law. A public school must keep confidential any individually identifiable information about children receiving home school education and parents of such children. The bill also repeals provisions regarding parents providing notice that their children will attend home school.

 The bill has been assigned to the Elementary and Secondary Education, which includes Baker.