And in other Frankfurt developments, a moment of silence and reflection may be a required part of the school day if Senate Bill 19 passes this session.

State lawmakers and religious leaders discuss the bill today in committee.

As our McKenzie Spink reports, backers of the bill say it does not infringe on students religious freedoms.

Currently in Kentucky, any public school teacher may choose to begin the day with a moment of silence or reflection.

Senate Bill 19 would change the current law to make it a requirement.

Proponents of the bill say taking a bit of quietness at the beginning of the school day has many benefits for students.

Research can consistently demonstrates that such moments enhance cognitive abilities, concentration, emotional well-being.

Studies indicate that implementing a moment of silence leads to a measured decline in school violence and juvenile violence, with police reporting in districts that have instituted it as much as 15 to 20 25% drop in juvenile violence arrests.

Students would have the choice to pray, meditate or otherwise spend the 1 to 2 minute moment as they choose.

And the bill includes language that encourages parents to, quote, provide guidance to their pupils regarding the moment of silence or reflection, end quote.

Opponents of the bill believe the current law, which allows teachers the choice to initiate a time of reflection, is sufficient.

A portion of the existing law, which is not under consideration in this bill, allows for the recital of the Lord's Prayer in the classroom.

Rabbi Ben Freed from the Knesset Israel congregation in Louisville, finds the relationship between the statute and the proposed bill to be concerning.

I find that to be somewhat problematic for a Jewish kid who would be in a in a classroom and what even though they would not be required to say the Lord's Prayer, but that the Lord's Prayer could be announced and said by the classroom, followed by a moment of silence to me, would make that child feel either compelled to do something that was not a part of their religious tradition, or at least at the very least feel very left out.

Rabbi Lipman responded that Senate Bill 19 does not make students do anything they do not want to do.

And he noted that several civil liberty organizations have voiced their support regarding that claim.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Fire affirmed this every year that it has been put forward and when Foot first put forward, the ACLU of Kentucky stated, and I quote, The ACLU of Kentucky currently has no serious concerns with this bill because it does not mandate school prayer.

In the past, this measure has been met with bipartisan support and this year is no different.

The bill passed unanimously out of committee, including by Lexington Democrat Senator Reggie Thomas, who had this to say when casting his yes vote.

When I see statues where religion is being used as a source to promote bigotry or discrimination or hate, then I'm going to oppose I'm going to oppose those bills.

But where a religious use being used as a shield to provide comfort or consolation, or just a moment of peace for a person, then I'm going to I'm going to allow that.

And that's what this bill does.

Senate Bill 19 will now head to the upper chamber for consideration by the full membership for Kentucky edition.

I'm McKenzie.

Spink.

Thank you, McKenzie.

Senate Bill 83 also passed out of the Senate Education Committee today.

It would allow a Home Schooled Students Act score to be translated into a GPA for the purpose of receiving keys scholarship money.