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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3695
Sponsored by Representative RESCHKE
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Tells school districts to adopt a policy to allow students to attend a released time
course. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6).
Requires school districts to excuse a student for a released time course. Prescribes the re-
quirements for released time courses.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to excusal for religious instruction; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 339.420.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 339.420 is amended to read:
339.420. Upon application of the parent or guardian of the child, or, if the child has attained the
age of majority, upon application of the child, a child attending [ the] a public school :
(1) May be excused from school for periods not exceeding two hours in any week for [ elementary
pupils] students in kindergarten through grade eight and five hours in any week for [ secondary
pupils] students in grades 9 through 12 to attend weekday schools giving instruction in religion.
(2) Must be excused from school for periods not exceeding one hour in any week to attend
a released time course as provided by section 2 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 2. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Released time course” means a course in religious instruction for which a student
is excused from school to attend.
(b) “School district” means a school district as defined in ORS 332.002 or a public charter
school.
(c) “Sponsoring entity” means an entity that provides instruction for a released time
course and that complies with the requirements of a policy adopted by a school district as
provided by subsection (3) of this section.
(2) Each school district shall adopt a policy that provides for the excusal of a student
from school to attend a released time course.
(3) A policy adopted under this section must require that:
(a) A student be excused to attend a released time course only as provided by ORS
339.420.
(b) The school district awards academic credit for the completion of a released time
course. When determining how much academic credit to award for completion of a released
time course, the school district shall consider:
(A) The number of hours of classroom instruction time.
(B) The course syllabus, requirements and materials.
(C) The methods of assessment used in the course.
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 4096
HB 3695
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(D) The qualifications of the course instructor, which must align with the school
district’s requirements for teachers.
(c) The sponsoring entity maintains attendance records and makes the records available
to the school district the student attends.
(d) Transportation to and from the place of instruction for the released time course is
the responsibility of the sponsoring entity, the student or the parent or guardian of the
student.
(e) The sponsoring entity makes provisions for and assumes liability for the student while
the student is under the control of the sponsoring entity.
(f) No school district funds are expended in relation to a released time course.
(g) Released time courses are not held on school property unless permitted as provided
by ORS 332.172.
(h) The student assumes responsibility for any missed school work.
(4) Any time period for which a student is excused to attend a released time course is
considered as time the student is attending the school from which the student is excused for
the purpose of ORS 327.061 and for the purpose of instructional time requirements prescribed
by the State Board of Education.
(5) Any person or organization aggrieved by a violation of this section may bring an
action against the school district responsible for the violation and may seek appropriate re-
lief, including injunctive relief, monetary damages, reasonable attorney fees and court costs.
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