January 28, 2000
Dear Attorney General Lockyer:
Pursuant to Elections Code Section 9005, this letter contains our review of the fiscal effect of proposed initiative file number SA1999RF0069, called "The Prayer in School Initiative."
Proposal
This measure adds to the State Constitution a requirement that public schools provide at least one minute at the start of each school day for a "time of silence and/or self devotion." In addition, schools would be required to give students the opportunity to recite the pledge of allegiance at the start of each school day, with the word "God" included as part of the pledge. The measure also grants students the right to use the Bible for school assignments. Finally, the measure requires that its several provisions be made available to the public for review and published in "school handbooks."
Fiscal Effect
If this measure were enacted, public schools would incur some minor, primarily one-time costs to make information available to the public. These costs probably could be absorbed within existing school budgets.