HB342 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Susan DuBoseRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Religious instruction, elective credit for release time further provided for

Summary

HB342 would require Alabama local school districts to allow elective credit for students released during the school day to attend religious instruction, with specific rules on consent, records, liability, and funding.

What This Bill Does

It amends existing law to require local boards of education to adopt a policy that allows released-time for religious instruction to count as elective credit. The policy requires parental consent in writing, attendance records kept by the sponsoring entity, and liability provisions; it limits public funding to de minimis administrative costs and excludes public school personnel from providing the instruction. Credits earned cannot exceed normal elective credit, attendance standards will apply, time spent released counts as part of the school day, and transportation is the responsibility of the sponsor/parent/student; students cannot be released from required core classes. The act takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Students who participate in released-time religious instruction and their families, who may earn elective credit and have the time counted as part of the school day (with parental consent).
• Sponsoring private religious entities and local school districts, which must implement the policy, maintain attendance records, handle liability, coordinate transportation outside public school personnel, and ensure credit rules and attendance standards are followed.

Key Provisions

• The State Board of Education must adopt a policy; each local board of education must implement it for released-time elective credit.
• Released time is defined as a period during the school day when a student may attend off-campus religious instruction conducted by a private entity.
• Consent: written parental/guardian consent is required; attendance records must be kept by the sponsoring entity and available to the public school.
• Liability and funding: the sponsoring entity assumes liability for the student; no public funds may be used except de minimis administrative costs; no public school personnel provide the instruction.
• Credit: in grades where credit is earned, the student may earn elective credit for released time, not exceeding the normal elective credit for that school system; minimum attendance standards are set by the Board.
• Time management: credit awarded for released time counts as part of the actual school day.
• Transportation: transportation to and from the released-time location is the responsibility of the sponsor, parent, guardian, or student; public school personnel may not arrange it.
• No release from core curriculum: a student may not be released from a required core class to attend released time.
• Effective date: July 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education