Illinois lawmakers have received mixed responses in the two weeks after the state's Senate passed a new law mandating a moment of silence in the public schools.

Titled the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act, the law is aimed at allowing students time to reflect upon their busy days, said Illinois Sen. John J. Millner (R-St. Charles), who voted in favor of the new law.

Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Westchester), who introduced the act, said the initial intention of the legislation was to avoid the religious aspect.

"The reflection period is not intended to be conducted as a religious service or exercise, but considered as an opportunity for a moment of silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day," Lightford said.

According to Millner, state lawmakers overrode Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto with an overwhelming number. The override put the law into effect immediately Oct. 11.

"I recognize the separation between church and state, but expression must be treated fairly by our public schools," Lightford said.

Since the law passed, Millner said he has received several phone calls opposing the vote, but he said he did not receive any complaints after the initial vote.

"Where was the opposition then? The first time we voted there was no opposition," Millner said.

He also said he would have reevaluated the override if he knew then there was such resistance.

"The inner-city schools in Chicago asked for the legislation to pass," Millner said.

The Chicago Board of Education released a memo that said the act prohibits teachers from using the time to conduct or lead a religious exercise.

Sarah Watson, director of communication for the Springfield Public School District, said the Springfield district, which includes 27 schools, has received particularly favorable comments especially from high schools.

Watson said the only issue her district had was clarifying what the moment was for.

The Prayer Act does not define the required length of the moment of silence and instead leaves it up to the individual school districts' discretion, Millner said.

Watson said the Springfield district has allocated 20 seconds for the meditation, but she heard some schools had two or three second moments.

The Chicago Board of Education told its schools to devote ten seconds of time after saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

"We approach this as a moment to think about the direction of the day," Watson said.

According to the act, there are no repercussions for schools that do not comply with the new law.

"It's just a matter of respect for the law. We assumed schools would tell people that it's the law," Millner said.

Some Illinois residents are taking legal action to prevent the legislation. Rob Sherman, an Illinois talk radio host who sends his daughter to an Illinois public school, is bringing a lawsuit to remove the moment of silence.

Gregory Kulis, the legal council for Sherman, said there is enough backing to prove this law is unconstitutional.

Kulis said the lawsuit was originally brought against the governor but now will also include the state Board of Education and the school district Sherman's daughter attends.

"It's a First Amendment violation," Kulis said. "(Sherman) is not telling people they can't pray just that schools can't suggest or enforce times to pray. If the secular purpose of the law is for meditation, then it should be phrased that way."