11100155D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1409
Offered January 12, 2011
Prefiled September 13, 2010
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 57-2.03, relating to prayer, invocation, or benediction provided at public events.
----------

Patrons-- Bell, Richard P., Athey, Carrico, Cleaveland, Cline, Cole, Cox, J.A., Crockett-Stark, Garrett, Habeeb, Lingamfelter, Merricks, Miller, J.H., Morefield, Poindexter, Robinson, Sherwood and Wilt
----------
Referred to Committee on General Laws
----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 57-2.03 as follows:

§ 57-2.03.  Prayer, invocation, or benediction at public events.

Whenever an individual is requested to provide prayer, invocation, or benediction at a public event that is sanctioned by a governmental agency, such governmental agency shall have no authority  to regulate how that individual refers to God in prayer or to prohibit the religious content of the individual's prayer, invocation, or benediction, provided such prayer, invocation, or benediction is not used to advance a particular religion or to disparage another faith or belief.