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Legislation allowing student leaders to deliver an “inspirational message” at school functions is on its way to the Governor after more than hour of impassioned debate. Supporters say it is not a school prayer bill, but opponents argued inspirational message is just code for prayer.

Children in the first grade, and every other grade, could soon start receiving inspirational messages from classmates. The Legislation sets no age limit on who can give an inspiration message. It says only that school personnel can’t be involved. Representative Dennis Baxley cast the issue this way.

“Liberate these children and let them learn about real freedom. This is about freedom.

The legislation sparked more than an hour of heated debate.

“There must be controls” said Jewish representative Franklin Sands of Broward County. “And the kindergarten children, we’re saying give them absolute rights. They can make any message they want. Are you kidding?” asked Sands.

But some African Americans, including Representative Hazell Rogers, crossed party lines to support the messages. She explained her decision this way: “The majority of people in my district believe that we are having problems with our students because we took prayer out of the classroom.”

“88 yeas, 27 nays Mister Speaker.”

That vote sends the legislation to the Governor

Under the legislation, every school district will get a chance to set its own policies, but lawmakers turned down an attempt to make those schools responsible for any legal fees that might result. Once signed, lawsuits are a foregone conclusion said Ronald Bilbao of the ACLU. “And we know that it violates the establishment clause of the first amendment to the Constitution. We feel it’s an open invitation to litigation.”

And with the Governor’s okay, the messages could begin as early as next school year.

Governor Rick Scott says he has not read the legislation, but he believes in prayer in school.