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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
SENATE BILL 486 By: Jett
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to schools; allowing a school
district board of education to contract with a
chaplain to perform certain duties; exempting
chaplain from certain requirements; defining term;
requiring certain record check; providing for
codification; providing an effective date; and
declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Stat utes as Section 6-101.9 of Title 70, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. A school district board of education may contract with a
chaplain to perform the duties of a school counselor. A chaplain
shall not be required to meet the certification requirements of
Section 6-122.3 or 6-187 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes and
shall not be considered a teacher as defined by Section 1 -116 of
Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. For the purposes of this
section, “chaplain” means an ordained or authorized pastor,
minister, priest, or other ecclesiastical dignitary of any
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denomination who has been duly ordained or authorized by the church
to which the person belongs.
B. A chaplain hired pursuant to the provisions of this section
shall be subject to a national criminal history record check as
required by Section 5 -142 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
SECTION 2. This act shall becom e effective July 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. It being immediately nec essary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
60-1-1576 EB 1/10/2025 9:17:00 AM