LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: HB 334 HLS 24RS 670
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 30, 2024 10:40 AM Author: AMEDEE
Dept./Agy.: EDUCATION
Subject: Permits school boards to allow chaplains to serve in public schools Analyst: Julie Silva
SCHOOLS EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX Page 1 of 1
Authorizes school boards to provide for chaplains to serve in public schools as employees or on a volunteer basis
Proposed legislation allows each local public school board to hire certified chaplains as school employees or authorize them
to serve as volunteers at public schools, including charter schools, under its jurisdiction. Further requires all existing laws
concerning criminal history requirements for school employees and volunteers also be applied to certified chaplains serving
as provided in proposed legislation. Chaplains are not required to be certified teachers under the Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education. Proposed legislation limits the liability of certified chaplains for any action taken or statement made in
adherence with the provisions for service, support, and programs for students; however, immunity from liability is denied
concerning any action or statement by chaplains, if the action or statement was maliciously, willfully, and deliberately
intended to cause harm to harass or intimidate those seeking support, services and programs.
EXPENDITURES 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW
Annual Total
REVENUES 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
Proposed legislation may lead to an increase in local fund expenditures. Any increase would be dependent on the extent to
which, if at all, a school board opts to participate in the provisions of proposed legislation. If a school board chooses to hire
one or more certified chaplains as school employees, there will be an increase in expenditures to pay for such employees’
salaries and related benefits, as determined by the hiring school board. Local school districts will be required to run criminal
background checks (CBC) on the chaplains hired in the same manner that they run CBCs on any other employee.
Alternatively, while school boards that accept volunteer chaplains may experience a minor workload increase related to
overseeing volunteer staff, these requirements fall within existing administrative functions, and implementation should not
require any additional expenditure of funds. Local school districts will be required to run CBCs on the chaplains serving as
volunteers in the same manner that they run CBCs on any other volunteers.
The current cost of a single CBC is $39.25. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) charges an additional processing
fee, currently $15 per CBC, but expected to increase to $25 in January 2025. The total cost for a school district to request a
single CBC for either employee or volunteer chaplains, once the new fee takes effect, is $64.25. LDOE reports local school
boards would incur the cost of these CBCs; however, this is to the extent they opt to reimburse applicants for such costs.
REVENUE EXPLANATION
To the extent local school boards opt into the provisions of proposed legislation, LDOE and the Office of State Police (OSP)
will see an increase in SGR as a result. Act 745 of the 2022 RS allows LDOE to charge a fee of $25 to process CBCs. Present
law allows for a 5% annual increase in the amount of the processing fee; however, whether LDOE will increase this fee
annually is unknown. Note: CBCs will not be required to be processed until the third quarter of FY 25.
OSP charges $26 for state background checks and $13.25 for federal background checks. OSP retains $2 of the $13.25 fee
charged for the federal background checks and remits the remainder to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Any increase in
CBCs requested as a result of proposed legislation will result in additional fees collected by OSP.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
Patrice Thomas
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee 6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Deputy Fiscal Officer