House File 884 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 884 BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO HF 334) A BILL FOR An Act authorizing school districts, charter schools, and 1 innovation zone schools to employ chaplains, or engage 2 volunteer chaplains, to provide services to students. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2254HV (2) 91 jda/jh
H.F. 884 Section 1. Section 256E.7, subsection 1, Code 2025, is 1 amended by adding the following new paragraph: 2 NEW PARAGRAPH . j. Employ chaplains, or engage chaplains to 3 serve without compensation or remuneration, in the same manner 4 as a school district under section 279.87. 5 Sec. 2. Section 256F.4, Code 2025, is amended by adding the 6 following new subsection: 7 NEW SUBSECTION . 9. A charter school or innovation zone 8 school may employ chaplains, or engage chaplains to serve 9 without compensation or remuneration, in the same manner as a 10 school district under section 279.87. 11 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 279.87 School chaplains. 12 1. The board of directors of a school district may employ a 13 chaplain, or engage a chaplain to serve without compensation or 14 remuneration, to provide support, services, and programs for 15 students as assigned by the board of directors of the school 16 district. 17 2. a. Subject to paragraph b , the board of directors of 18 a school district may establish qualifications, credentialing, 19 and other requirements related to chaplains who are employed or 20 engaged pursuant to this section. 21 b. The board of directors of a school district shall not 22 require a chaplain employed or engaged under this section to 23 have a license, endorsement, certification, authorization, or 24 statement of recognition issued by the board of educational 25 examiners. 26 3. The procedure for background investigations and 27 termination established in section 279.69 shall apply to 28 chaplains employed or engaged under this section. 29 4. The board of directors of a school district shall not 30 require or coerce a student to utilize the support, services, 31 or programs provided by a chaplain who is employed or engaged 32 by the board of directors of the school district pursuant to 33 this section. 34 EXPLANATION 35 -1- LSB 2254HV (2) 91 jda/jh 1/ 2
H.F. 884 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 This bill authorizes school districts, charter schools, 3 and innovation zone schools to employ chaplains, or engage 4 volunteer chaplains, to provide support, services, and programs 5 for students. These schools may establish qualifications, 6 credentialing, and other requirements related to chaplains who 7 are employed or engaged under the bills provisions; however, 8 such chaplains are not required to have a license, endorsement, 9 certification, authorization, or statement of recognition 10 issued by the board of educational examiners. The bill 11 requires school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone 12 schools to follow the background investigation and termination 13 procedures established under Code section 279.69 when employing 14 chaplains or engaging volunteer chaplains. The bill prohibits 15 school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools 16 from requiring or coercing a student to utilize the support, 17 services, or programs provided by a chaplain. 18 -2- LSB 2254HV (2) 91 jda/jh 2/ 2