HB 931: Chaplains
The bill authorizes each school district or charter school to adopt a policy to allow volunteer school chaplains to provide support, services, and programs to students as assigned by the district school board or charter school governing board. Any such policy adopted by a school district or charter school must, at a minimum, describe the supports, services, or programs that volunteer school chaplains may be assigned; require that principals of schools with a volunteer school chaplain inform all parents of the availability of such supports, services, and programs; and require written parental consent before a student participates in or receives supports, services, and programs provided by a volunteer school chaplain.
The bill requires that parents must be permitted to select a volunteer school chaplain from the list provided by the school district, which must include the chaplain's religious affiliation, if any.
The bill requires each volunteer school chaplain to meet statutory background screening requirements for individuals who will have direct contact with students, specifically a level 2 screening of both state and federal criminal records.
The bill requires each school district and charter school governing board, by January 1, 2025, to vote on whether to adopt a policy authorizing the school district or charter school to allow volunteer school chaplains. Any school district or charter school that adopts such a policy must publish the list of volunteer school chaplains, including any religious affiliation, on the school district's website.
Effective Changes
The bill authorizes each school district or charter school to adopt a policy to allow volunteer school chaplains to provide support, services, and programs to students as assigned by the district school board or charter school governing board. Any such policy adopted by a school district or charter school must, at a minimum:
- Describe the supports, services, or programs that volunteer school chaplains may be assigned.
- Require that principals of schools with a volunteer school chaplain inform all parents of the availability of such supports, services, and programs.
- Require written parental consent before a student participates in or receives supports, services, and programs provided by a volunteer school chaplain. Parents must be permitted to select a volunteer school chaplain from the list provided by the school district, which must include the chaplain's religious affiliation, if any.
Status: Bill passed on March 7, 2024