Indiana Bill Would Restore Students' Right to Pray

A new Indiana bill could restore students' right to pray aloud in public schools.
    
John Bartlett, a Democratic member of the Indiana House of Representatives, drafted the measure, House Bill 1024. And Tuesday, the education committee overwhelmingly approved it.
 
Bartlett says his bill will give students an opportunity to pray in school, but it will not force them to pray.
 
Supporters of the the bill say it would send a powerful message about students' First Amendment right to share their religious views. Other observers said the bill could offend some students and it wasn't necessary.

A fellow Democratic member of the state house, Ed Delaney, is the most vocal critic of the legislation.

"We're going to offend kids from every known religion. The state cannot sponsor prayer without destroying prayer," Delaney said. 

The state's legal director of the ACLU said the legislators behind this bill may be opening up schools to an array of legal headaches.

The bill now moves to the full House floor.