BISMARCK - North Dakota legislators have endorsed a measure that says students can't be prohibited from participating in any "student-initiated prayer'' at a public or nonpublic school.
The Senate unanimously passed the measure Friday, following House approval a day earlier.
Backers say it's in response to a prayer not being allowed to be broadcast over the public address system at a football game two years ago between two Roman Catholic high schools. Because it was a playoff game, it was overseen by the North Dakota High School Activities Association, which didn't allow the pre-game prayer to be broadcast based on a 2000 Supreme Court decision.
The legislation doesn't address broadcasting a prayer, and high school activities association spokesman Brian Bubach says the bill won't stop the group from barring prayer over a loudspeaker.