HB179INTRODUCED
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HB179
XAYL7ZZ-1
By Representatives Gidley, Hollis, Hulsey, Givens, Rehm,
Paschal, Moore (P), Kiel, Underwood, DuBose, Butler, Estes,
McClammy, Harrison, Pettus, Fidler, Morris
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 05-Feb-25
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7 XAYL7ZZ-1 07/15/2024 GP (L)lg 2024-2138
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First Read: 05-Feb-25
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would authorize each local board of
education and the governing body of each public charter
school to vote on whether to allow schools in their
jurisdiction to accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer
and, if the vote is in the affirmative, would allow
volunteer chaplains to be made available to provide
services at the request of a teacher.
This bill would require a volunteer campus
chaplain to complete a recognized chaplain training
program and undergo a criminal history background
information check before being accepted as a volunteer.
This bill would also prohibit any individual who
has been adjudicated or convicted of an offense that
requires registration as a sex offender from
volunteering as a campus chaplain.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to public K-12 education; to allow a public
K-12 school or public charter school to accept a campus
chaplain who meets certain requirements as a volunteer; to
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chaplain who meets certain requirements as a volunteer; to
prohibit certain individuals from volunteering as a campus
chaplain; and to allow each local board of education and the
governing body of each public charter school to vote on
whether to allow the volunteer services of a campus chaplain.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For the purposes of this section, the
term "public school" means any public K-12 school or public
charter school.
(b)(1) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each
local board of education and the governing body of each public
charter school may take a recorded vote on whether to adopt a
policy authorizing a public school under its jurisdiction to
accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer under this section.
(2) If a local board of education or the governing body
of a public charter school votes to accept a campus chaplain
as a volunteer, a campus chaplain may be made available to
provide support, services, and programs at the request of any
teacher in the local school district.
(c)(1) A campus chaplain volunteering under this
section is not required to be certified by the State Board of
Education.
(2) Each campus chaplain volunteering under this
section must have completed a recognized chaplain training
program.
(d) A public school that accepts a campus chaplain as a
volunteer under this section, before the campus chaplain may
begin volunteering, shall ensure that the campus chaplain
complies with Section 16-22A-5, Code of Alabama 1975, relating
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complies with Section 16-22A-5, Code of Alabama 1975, relating
to criminal history background information check requirements.
(e) A public school may not accept a campus chaplain as
a volunteer who has been adjudicated or convicted of an
offense that requires registration as a sex offender under
Chapter 20A of Title 15, Code of Alabama 1975.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on July 1,
2025.
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