A bill requiring public school students to start each day with a moment of silence or reflection.

Pass the full House today under House Bill 96 students would remain silent and seated for no more than 2 minutes.

Teachers could not instruct them during that time.

Local school boards would be required to come up with a policy for the moment of silence or reflection.

The bill's sponsor, Republican State Representative Daniel Fister of Rosales, said parents would be notified about the policy and encouraged to provide guidance to their children on how to use the time.

Today on the floor, Fister was asked if parents could opt out their child and participating in the moment of silence.

I think they would have to do is instruct the child to sit there motionless and not to interfere.

If any other student.

The word prayer is only in this bill one time, and that is as an option among other options that are available.

Now, Fister went on to say that students would ultimately decide on what to do with that time.

State Representative Sarah Stocker, a Democrat from Louisville who voted against the bill, said she had some ideas about what students could reflect on.

Maybe you could think about how many of your classmates and Kentucky children are food insecure or how many students are experiencing or on the verge of experiencing homelessness, or how many kids are being abused and neglected?

How many kids will participate in an active shooter drill today?

Or what lawmakers are doing to address any of these real issues?

And why are they passing laws forcing for you to participate in a moment of silence?

That is not the policy solution to the many issues that we have.

House Bill 96 passed by a vote of 79 to 17.

It now moves to the Senate for further consideration.