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Starting July 1, Florida school districts have the option to allow volunteer chaplains to offer support and services to students in public schools. What sets this proposal apart is that it welcomes individuals of any religious background, or even those with no religious affiliation, and does not require any specific training. Interestingly, other states with Republican-controlled legislatures are choosing not to pursue similar initiatives.
In a groundbreaking move, Texas became the first state to pass a law allowing schools to hire religious figures for mental health positions. Following this progressive step, lawmakers in 15 other states have also proposed similar legislation.
Florida remains the solitary state where the legislature has successfully passed a measure, known as HB 931, and where Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the bill into law. However, there is still a possibility for Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Ohio to pass their own versions of the bill later this year.
Lawmakers have put forward various proposals to introduce chaplains into public schools, each state taking its own approach when it comes to the qualifications and objectives of these individuals.
The analysis conducted by Florida Phoenix reveals that this year, several states including Alabama, Nebraska, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Utah, Missouri, and Pennsylvania have not met the required measures for school chaplaincy.
Starting from July 1, public school districts in Florida have the option to implement a volunteer chaplain program, thanks to the support of some Democrats alongside the Republican-controlled Legislature. However, it is essential to note that parents will need to provide written consent for their children to participate in the program. It should be noted that the legislation does not stipulate any specific degree requirements for the chaplains. Instead, the responsibility of determining these requirements lies with the respective school districts.
There’s already controversy
HB 931 has sparked a heated debate between DeSantis and the Satanic Temple. In April, when DeSantis officially approved the bill, he made it clear that Satanists would not be considered for chaplain positions. This statement was in response to the Satanic Temple’s expressed interest in recruiting members to serve as volunteer chaplains, despite their status as a recognized church by the IRS.
The Florida bill does not specify a particular religion that the chaplains must practice. In fact, the volunteer chaplains are not required to have any religious affiliation at all. However, according to the language in the bill, any school district or charter school that adopts a policy for volunteer school chaplains must publish a list of the chaplains on their website, including any religious affiliation they may have.
The impact of HB 931 on Florida public schools remains uncertain, as school districts are not obligated to hold a public vote on the matter. In contrast, Texas mandated its school districts to conduct such a vote.
Holly Hollman, general counsel to the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, suggests that Florida’s school leaders could learn from their Texas counterparts in addressing the issue. According to The Texas Tribune, as of April, only one charter school in Texas had employed chaplains.
Hollman expressed his concerns about the proposals, emphasizing that they are not just about supporting students but also pose significant problems. In an interview with Florida Phoenix, he stated, “As more chaplains raise their voices, school districts will come to realize that these proposals go beyond the scope of public schools’ responsibilities.” Hollman further added that it is crucial for school districts to carefully consider the needs of their students and recognize that this particular issue falls outside the mandate of public schools.
Utah says no to Satanists
Members of the Satanic Temple offering their services as chaplains in public schools was a proposition that Utah Republicans rejected this year. On the last day of the GOP-controlled Utah legislative session, the state’s chaplain bill failed to pass with a close 16-12 vote.
During the Senate floor debate, several Republican lawmakers who opposed the bill expressed concerns that it would allow too many individuals to serve as chaplains. Lincoln Fillmore, a Republican representative from Salt Lake County, even went so far as to suggest that the Senate would come to regret their decision once they saw the consequences of approving the bill.
According to Fillmore, introducing chaplains into public schools could potentially aggravate the existing cultural dynamics. He argues that without the ability to discriminate, any religious group would be able to place their chaplains in schools. As seen in Florida, even the Church of Satan expressed interest in having chaplains. Fillmore mentioned that during the hearings for the bill, the satanic church showed support for it.
Utah Republican Senator Lincoln Fillmore, representing Salt Lake County, is pictured here. The image of Senator Fillmore is courtesy of the Utah Senate.
Fillmore cautioned Florida to exercise caution as the law comes into effect.
“There is a legitimate concern on the right,” he acknowledged. “It stems from past experiences and the current trend of schools expanding their curriculum to include subjects beyond math, science, and history. It is important to be mindful of the role of chaplains in schools and the potential influence they may have.”
Indiana declines to employ chaplains as counselors
Lawmakers in Texas explicitly stated that school chaplains would be hired in mental health roles. However, in other states like Florida, lawmakers were not as forthright in their intentions. Republican Sen. Erin Grall, a sponsor of the bill, mentioned during committee hearings and floor debates that a volunteer chaplain program could be seen as an alternative to school counselors for certain families.
Republican Senator Stacey Donato of Indiana embraced the concept of chaplains serving as counselors. She put forth a proposal that would permit public schools to employ chaplains who could offer secular guidance to students and school staff. The proposal outlined certain prerequisites, including the requirement for chaplains to hold a master’s degree in a religion-related field and have at least two years of counseling experience.
Despite the Republican Party’s control of both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly, Donato’s effort did not succeed this year. Lawmakers decided to remove the provision that allowed chaplains to serve as counselors from a separate proposal that required schools to accommodate parents’ requests for their children to leave classes for religious instruction, as reported by States Newsroom’s Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Alabama Democrats take the lead
Most state Democrats have opposed the school chaplain bills, arguing that they would introduce religion into public schools and permit unlicensed individuals to address students’ mental health issues.
Rodger Smitherman, a Democrat from Birmingham, Alabama, emphasized that his proposal to introduce chaplains to public schools is not intended to replace counselors. Despite facing no opposition in the Senate, Smitherman supported a House amendment on May 1st that significantly modified his bill, as reported by States Newsroom’s Alabama Reflector.
Smitherman initially proposed a measure that would have permitted schools to hire or accept chaplains as volunteers, provided they passed a background check and completed a recognized chaplain training program. However, after the amendment, chaplains can now only serve as volunteers at the request of teachers, and school boards are no longer required to vote on whether to implement the program.
During the committee hearing, Democratic Rep. TaShina Morris emphasized the importance of ensuring our teachers’ safety. She emphasized the need to provide them with access to someone to talk to if they require support.
Unfortunately, the bill was not voted on by the legislature before Sine Die arrived on Thursday night.
Oklahoma’s resurrected bill
According to States Newsroom’s Oklahoma Voice, a Republican lawmaker in Oklahoma is attempting to revive a bill from 2023 that aims to introduce chaplains into public schools. This move comes after four previous school chaplain bills failed to receive any consideration in the state legislature.
Moore County Representative Kevin West successfully pushed through his proposal with a 54-37 vote in the House, despite opposition from 20 fellow Republicans. While the Senate has yet to vote on the bill, amendments made in the House have bolstered the criteria for school chaplains, whether they are volunteers or employed, as reported by Oklahoma Voice.
The bill specifies that school chaplains are prohibited from engaging in any attempts to convert individuals to their religion. Moreover, they are required to obtain an endorsement from their respective faith group. Furthermore, they must possess both a bachelor’s and a graduate degree in theology or religious studies.
Chaplains may soon be introduced into public schools in Florida, however, other conservative states are rejecting this proposal.
