Jackson Free Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Senate Education Committee has approved a measure meant to make it legal for students to pray before public school groups.

Senate Bill 2633, sponsored by Sen. Chris McDaniel, a Republican from Elllisville, was approved by the committee Tuesday. A similar bill is pending in the House.

It suggests naming events including morning announcements, football games and graduations as "limited public forums" choosing students to speak at each. The bill says schools can't punish students who pray, and sponsors say the aim is to promote such prayer.

The bill bans teachers from penalizing students for expressing religious views in schoolwork. It requires allowing students to organize prayer groups and religious clubs and allowing outside religious groups to use school facilities in the same way as nonreligious groups.