Local governments that choose to allow nativity scenes in public schools would be protected, so long as they followed certain requirements laid out in a bill introduced by Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, that seems likely to pass.
The House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill 88-0 that would authorize local school boards to educate students about religious holidays that take place in the winter, including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
The legislation would allow symbols associated with religious holidays -- such as Christmas trees and nativity scenes -- to be displayed in public schools as long as items representing multiple religions or secular belief systems were represented.
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Alan Seabaugh, said the bill was largely based on a Texas law that has already withstood a legal challenge. He said he was confident that the law would be upheld by the courts if legal challenges from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) materialized. The ACLU typically frowns on religious symbols being placed in public schools and government buildings.
"The state would absolutely win [if a lawsuit comes forward]," said Seabaugh.
The legislation would allow symbols associated with religious holidays -- such as Christmas trees and nativity scenes -- to be displayed in public schools as long as items representing multiple religions or secular belief systems were represented.
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Alan Seabaugh, said the bill was largely based on a Texas law that has already withstood a legal challenge. He said he was confident that the law would be upheld by the courts if legal challenges from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) materialized. The ACLU typically frowns on religious symbols being placed in public schools and government buildings.
"The state would absolutely win [if a lawsuit comes forward]," said Seabaugh.
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