This bill proposes to amend current statutes by allowing school district governing boards and charter school governing bodies to permit volunteer school chaplains to provide various forms of support, services, and programs to students. Each governing body that opts to allow volunteer chaplains must adopt a policy that outlines the specific support and services provided, establishes procedures for maintaining a list of approved chaplains, and ensures that each chaplain meets certain qualifications, including background checks and educational requirements. The policy must also require schools to notify parents about the availability of these services and obtain written consent before students can participate.

Additionally, the bill specifies that principals have the authority to refuse to include any volunteer chaplain on the approved list if they do not meet the established requirements or if their involvement would conflict with the school's educational interests. Definitions for key terms such as "chaplain," "local religious group," and "religious group" are also provided to clarify the scope of the legislation. Overall, the bill aims to formalize the role of volunteer chaplains in schools while ensuring that appropriate safeguards and policies are in place.

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