Section 20-2-319. Prayers prior to athletic event held on the campus of a private school not to be prohibited

   (a) No law or regulation of this state shall prohibit or be construed as prohibiting or discouraging a private school from conducting a prayer prior to an athletic event held on the campus of the private school.

(b) No athletic team from any public school in this state shall be prohibited by state law or regulation from participating in an athletic event held on the campus of a private school in this state for the reason that the private school conducts a prayer prior to such athletic event.

(c) No school which receives funding under this article shall participate in, sponsor, or provide coaching staff for interscholastic sports events which are conducted under the authority of, conducted under the rules of, or scheduled by any athletic association which prohibits or discourages a private school from conducting a prayer prior to an athletic event held on the campus of the private school.

(d) As used in this Code section, the term "athletic association" means any association of schools or any other similar organization which acts as an organizing, sanctioning, scheduling, or rule-making body for interscholastic athletic events in which public schools in this state participate.

Code 1981, § 20-2-319, enacted by Ga. L. 2005, p. 658, § 1/HB 678.