The bill, SF0014, creates a free book program administered by the WY Department of Education, but ultimately carried out by non-profit entities who would determine “age appropriate books” and give them to to each registered Wyoming child who are five years or younger.
This bill is unconstitutional because it violates WY State Constitution Article 3, Section 36 (see below).
Additionally the Wyoming State Constitution prohibits sectarian influence in public education five separate times (see below). Many non-profit entities today are attempting to softly indoctrinate children on a number of progressive, controversial issues that could be viewed as sectarian tenets, doctrines or instruction.
SECTARIAN (Britannica Dictionary definition of SECTARIAN)
- relating to religious or political sects and the differences between them
The bill appropriates an initial $320,000 dollars and but also allows for the solicitation of donations, gifts and other funding from any entities.
WY State Constitution Article 3, Section 36
No appropriation shall be made for charitable, industrial, educational or benevolent purposes to any person, corporation or community not under the absolute control of the state, nor to any denominational or sectarian institution or association.
Wyoming State Constitution – Additional Sectarian Provisions
Article 1, Section 19
No money of the state shall ever be given or appropriated to any sectarian or religious society or institution.
Article 7, Section 8
Provision shall be made by general law for the equitable allocation of such income among all school districts in the state. But no appropriation shall be made from said fund to any district for the year in which a school has not been maintained for at least three (3) months; nor shall any portion of any public school fund ever be used to support or assist any private school, or any school, academy, seminary, college or other institution of learning controlled by any church or sectarian organization or religious denomination whatsoever.
Article 7, Section 12
No sectarian instruction, qualifications or tests shall be imparted, exacted, applied or in any manner tolerated in the schools of any grade or character controlled by the state, nor shall attendance be required at any religious service therein, nor shall any sectarian tenets or doctrines be taught or favored in any public school or institution that may be established under this constitution.
Article 21, Section 28
The legislature shall make laws for the establishment and maintenance of systems of public schools which shall be open to all the children of the state and free from sectarian control.