The proposed bill would amend current statutes by allowing school district governing boards and charter school governing bodies to authorize volunteer school chaplains to provide various support, services, and programs to students. Each governing body that permits volunteer chaplains must adopt a policy detailing the types of support offered, procedures for maintaining a list of approved chaplains, and requirements for parental notification and consent. The bill specifies that the list of chaplains must include their religious affiliations and be posted on the school's website.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific qualifications for volunteer chaplains, including educational requirements and background checks, which must be verified by the school principal before inclusion on the list. It also allows principals to refuse to include any chaplain who does not meet the established criteria or if their involvement is deemed contrary to the school's pedagogical interests. Definitions for terms such as "chaplain," "local religious group," and "religious group" are also provided to clarify the scope of the legislation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-120.05
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-120.05
House Engrossed Version: 15-120.05