This bill proposes the addition of a new section to South Dakota's education law that allows public schools to authorize individuals to serve as school chaplains, either as volunteers or employees. The legislation mandates that each school district's board implement a policy outlining the application process, minimum qualifications for chaplains, and the types of support they may provide. Furthermore, the policy must be transparent, requiring the school district to publish a list of chaplains and their religious affiliations on its website.

The bill also includes specific provisions to ensure that the role of school chaplains does not infringe on students' rights or safety. It explicitly states that participation in chaplain services cannot be mandatory for students and prohibits chaplains from having any disciplinary or supervisory authority over students. Additionally, individuals seeking to serve as chaplains must undergo a criminal background check, and those with certain criminal convictions, including crimes of moral turpitude, violence, sex offenses, or narcotics trafficking, are disqualified from serving in this capacity.