| 1 | 1 | | 1.1 A bill for an act |
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| 2 | 2 | | 1.2 relating to education; allowing certified chaplains in public schools; appropriating |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1.3 money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 121A. |
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| 4 | 4 | | 1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: |
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| 5 | 5 | | 1.5 Section 1. [121A.395] CERTIFIED SCHOOL CHAPLAINS. |
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| 6 | 6 | | 1.6 Subdivision 1.Definitions.As used in this section, "certified chaplain" means a chaplain |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1.7certified by a national or state chaplaincy organization or ecclesiastically endorsed by a |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1.8religious organization. |
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| 9 | 9 | | 1.9 Subd. 2.School chaplain.(a) A school district or charter school may employ or accept |
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| 10 | 10 | | 1.10as a volunteer a certified chaplain to provide support, services, and programs for a student, |
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| 11 | 11 | | 1.11staff member, or legal guardian of a student as authorized by the board of a school district |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1.12or charter school. |
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| 13 | 13 | | 1.13 (b) A certified chaplain employed by or volunteering at a school under this section is |
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| 14 | 14 | | 1.14not required to be licensed by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. |
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| 15 | 15 | | 1.15 Subd. 3.Background studies.The board of a school district or charter school must |
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| 16 | 16 | | 1.16initiate a criminal history background study for each individual hired or volunteering under |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1.17this section. The background study must include a review of information from the Bureau |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1.18of Criminal Apprehension, including criminal history data as defined in section 13.87, and |
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| 19 | 19 | | 1.19must meet all background check requirements under section 123B.03. |
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| 20 | 20 | | 1.20 Subd. 4.Prohibition.A school district or charter school must not employ or accept as |
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| 21 | 21 | | 1.21a volunteer under this section an individual who has been convicted of any offense that |
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| 22 | 22 | | 1Section 1. |
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| 23 | 23 | | 25-02567 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR CR/RC |
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| 24 | 24 | | SENATE |
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| 25 | 25 | | STATE OF MINNESOTA |
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| 26 | 26 | | S.F. No. 2281NINETY-FOURTH SESSION |
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| 27 | 27 | | (SENATE AUTHORS: LUCERO) |
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| 28 | 28 | | OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE |
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| 29 | 29 | | Introduction and first reading03/06/2025 |
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| 30 | 30 | | Referred to Education Policy 2.1requires the person to register as a predatory offender under section 243.166, or a crime |
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| 31 | 31 | | 2.2under a similar law of another state or the United States. |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2.3 Subd. 5.Cause of action.A cause of action does not arise against a certified chaplain |
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| 33 | 33 | | 2.4for an action taken or statement made while providing support, services, or programs for a |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2.5student, staff member, or legal guardian of a student, unless the action or statement was |
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| 35 | 35 | | 2.6maliciously, willfully, and deliberately intended to cause harm to, harass, or intimidate an |
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| 36 | 36 | | 2.7individual seeking the support, services, or programs provided by the certified chaplain. |
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| 37 | 37 | | 2.8 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS; SCHOOL CHAPLAINS. |
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| 38 | 38 | | 2.9 Subdivision 1.Department of Education.The sums indicated in this section are |
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| 39 | 39 | | 2.10appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years |
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| 40 | 40 | | 2.11designated. |
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| 41 | 41 | | 2.12 Subd. 2.School chaplains.For the purposes of providing salaries, training, oversight, |
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| 42 | 42 | | 2.13and governance of school chaplains under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.395: |
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| 43 | 43 | | 2026.....500,0002.14 $ |
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| 44 | 44 | | 2027.....500,0002.15 $ |
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| 45 | 45 | | 2Sec. 2. |
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| 46 | 46 | | 25-02567 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR CR/RC |
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