LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6218 NOTE PREPARED: Jan 30, 2024
BILL NUMBER: SB 50 BILL AMENDED: Jan 30, 2024
SUBJECT: Chaplains in Public Schools.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Donato BILL STATUS: 2
nd
Reading - 1
st
House
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED: GENERAL IMPACT: Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: (Amended) This bill allows a principal or superintendent of a public school,
including a charter school, to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a school chaplain if certain requirements
are met. It provides that a school chaplain may only provide secular support to a student or an employee of
the school unless permission is given by:
(1) The student receiving services if the student is an emancipated minor or adult;
(2) The employee of the school receiving services; or
(3) A parent of the student and the student receiving services if the student is an unemancipated
minor;
to provide nonsecular support.
The bill provides that a school chaplain is not required to divulge privileged or confidential communications
with a student under certain circumstances. It also provides that a school chaplain and a school counselor are
subject to duties to report or disclose certain information.
Effective Date: July 1, 2024.
Explanation of State Expenditures:
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: This bill could increase expenditures for public schools who choose
to employ a chaplain by approximately $65,000 per chaplain. This cost may be offset if the school chooses
to hire a chaplain instead of other types of student support services personnel. [The average annual salary
SB 50 1 and fringe benefit cost for a school psychologist, counselor, or social worker in the state of Indiana as of May
2022, is approximately $85,000, $64,000, and $59,000 respectively.] Public schools who accept volunteer
chaplains may also experience a minor workload increase related to overseeing the volunteer staff. These
requirements are within public schools’ routine administrative functions and should be able to be
implemented with no additional appropriations, assuming near customary agency staffing and resource levels.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected:
Local Agencies Affected: Public schools.
Information Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Fiscal Analyst: Kelan Fong, 317-232-9592.
SB 50 2