Bible Bill Passes House - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

Bible Bill Passes House

Rachel Withers

Eyewitness News Reporter

Nashville, TN  (WRCB-TV/Associated Press)  A controversial bill requiring Tennessee's public schools to offer an elective bible course is making its way to Gov. Phil Bredesen.

The legislation unanimously passed the Senate last week and was approved overwhelmingly in the House Tuesday.  If Gov. Bredesen signs the legislation, public schools will soon be required to offer bible as an elective course taught with an approved textbook.  The Tennessee Department of Education would create a uniform bible curriculum.

This legislation does come with some safeguards.  It prohibits the use of any religious test when assigning teachers to the bible class.

For many Tennessee school districts, this idea is nothing new.  In Hamilton county, schools have offered an elective bible class for the last 87 years.

Stay with Eyewitness News and wrcbtv.com for the latest updates on what Gov. Bredesen decides.