SS/SCS/SBs 49 & 118 - This act authorizes a school district or charter school to employ a chaplain or accept a chaplain as a volunteer. A school chaplain shall not be employed in any position that requires a teaching certificate unless such chaplain is a certified teacher. Additionally, a school chaplain shall be a member of a Department of Defense listed religious-endorsing organization recognized by the Armed Forces Chaplains Board. A background check shall be conducted on any school chaplain prior to such chaplain's commencement of employment or volunteer service. A school district or charter school shall not employ or accept as a volunteer any chaplain who is required to be registered as a sex offender under current law.
This act is similar to SB 1376 (2024).
OLIVIA SHANNON
Statutes affected: Introduced (0552S.01):
160.2505Committee (0552S.02):
160.2505Perfected (0552S.03):
160.2505
Senate Committee Minutes: SENATE COMMITTEE MINUTES Bill No.: SB 49
Sponsor: Black
Hearing Date: 2/4/2025
COMMITTEE: Education
CHAIRMAN: Brattin
DATE REFERRED: 1/16/2025 DATE HEARING REQUESTED:
STAFF:
Tom Estes
Heidi Kolkmeyer
Olivia Shannon
WITNESSES GIVING INFORMATION:
Johnny Davis - National School Chaplain Association
WITNESSES FOR:
Lisa Pannett - ArmorVine
Tim Faber
Andrea Hitefield - Pacific Justice Institute
Lynzey Lalabash
Patrick Miller - National School Chaplain Association
Peter Dissmore
WITNESSES AGAINST:
Nicolas Nartowicz - Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Tori Schaefer - ACLU of Missouri
Kim Quon - FHE
Brian Kaylor - Word + Way
Laura Green
Virgil Ovid - Satanic Temple of Missouri
Dava-Leigh Brush - Missouri Equity Education Partnership