| 2 | 2 | | Sixty-ninth |
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| 3 | 3 | | Legislative Assembly |
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| 4 | 4 | | of North Dakota |
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| 5 | 5 | | Introduced by |
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| 6 | 6 | | Representatives S. Olson, Schauer, K. Anderson, McLeod, Meier, Rohr, Steiner |
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| 7 | 7 | | Senators Boehm, Clemens, Larson, Paulson, Weston |
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| 8 | 8 | | A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-07 of the North Dakota |
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| 9 | 9 | | Century Code, relating to school chaplains in public school districts. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 15.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code is created |
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| 12 | 12 | | and enacted as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Certified chaplains - School district policy - Requirements. |
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| 14 | 14 | | 1.As used in this section, "certified chaplain" means a chaplain certified by a national or |
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| 15 | 15 | | state chaplaincy organization or ecclesiastically endorsed by a religious organization. |
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| 16 | 16 | | 2.A school district may employ or accept as a volunteer a certified chaplain to provide |
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| 17 | 17 | | support, services, and programs for a student, staff member, or legal guardian of a |
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| 18 | 18 | | student as authorized by the board of a school district. |
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| 19 | 19 | | 3.A certified chaplain employed or volunteering under this section is not required to be |
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| 20 | 20 | | licensed by the education standards and practices board. |
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| 21 | 21 | | 4.The board of a school district shall obtain a criminal history record check from the |
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| 22 | 22 | | bureau of criminal investigation for each individual hired or volunteering under this |
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| 23 | 23 | | section. All costs associated with a background check are the responsibility of the |
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| 24 | 24 | | board under section 12 - 60 - 24. |
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| 25 | 25 | | 5.A school district may not employ or accept as a volunteer under this section an |
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| 26 | 26 | | individual who is required to register under section 12.1 - 32 - 15. |
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| 27 | 27 | | 6.A cause of action does not arise against a certified chaplain for an action taken or |
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| 28 | 28 | | statement made while providing support, services, or programs for a student, staff |
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| 29 | 29 | | member, or legal guardian of a student, unless the action or statement was |
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| 59 | | - | Page No. 2 25.0431.04000 |
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| 60 | + | SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION - |
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| 61 | + | KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE SCHOOL CHAPLAINS. There is appropriated |
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| 62 | + | out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum |
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| 63 | + | of $500,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the department of public |
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| 64 | + | instruction for the purpose of funding the salaries, training, oversight, and governance of school |
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| 65 | + | chaplains and evaluating the efficacy of the program, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, |
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| 66 | + | and ending June 30, 2027. The superintendent of public instruction may provide each school |
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| 67 | + | district no more than $200,000. |
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| 68 | + | Page No. 2 25.0431.03000 |
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