Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1206

Introduced
4/15/25  

Caption

Providing for school chaplains.

Impact

If enacted, HB 1206 would have a direct impact on the policies and practices of public school entities across Pennsylvania. Schools would have the option to hire chaplains, thus modifying existing frameworks regarding student support services. The bill mandates that each school governing body vote on the adoption of such a policy within six months of its implementation, ensuring a structured approach to integrating this role in schools. This could potentially introduce a new layer of support within the education system, reflecting a growing recognition of mental health and emotional wellness in students.

Summary

House Bill 1206 aims to amend the Public School Code of 1949 in Pennsylvania to recognize and establish a role for certified school chaplains within public school entities. The bill seeks to enhance student and employee support through the inclusion of chaplains who can provide various services and programs. By allowing school districts and other educational institutions to employ or approve chaplains as volunteers, the legislation intends to address emotional and spiritual needs alongside typical educational requirements.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding HB 1206 appears to be mixed. Supporters advocate for the integration of chaplains as a means to offer essential support services to both students and staff, likely viewing it as a positive step towards improving holistic educational environments. However, potential opponents may raise concerns regarding the influence of religious figures in public institutions, fearing that such roles could blur the lines between church and state in educational settings. This underlying tension suggests that while the intent of the bill is to provide support, its implementation may provoke debate about inclusivity and the secular nature of public education.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the implications of employing school chaplains within public schools, particularly regarding the separation of church and state. Critics may argue that hiring chaplains could lead to the promotion of specific religious beliefs in an educational context, which might not align with the diverse views of students and families. Additionally, there could be discussions around the qualifications required for school chaplains and whether they adequately fit within the existing criteria for other educational staff. Thus, while the bill seeks to improve support mechanisms, it opens critical discussions about the balance of educational integrity and religious influence in schools.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB2183

Providing for school chaplains.

PA HB1422

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PA HB1805

Providing for school counseling services.

PA HB2370

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for adequacy and tax equity supplements and for accountability to Commonwealth taxpayers and further providing for Pennsylvania accountability grants.

PA SB700

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in intermediate units, further providing for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, further providing for qualifications; in certification of teachers, further providing for State certificates, for career and technical instruction and for baccalaureate certification basic skills assessment; in Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, further providing for definitions, for program establishment and duties of agency, for eligibility and for report; in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program and for school safety and security training and providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2024-2025 school year; in school security, further providing for duties of commission, providing for school security personnel and establishing School Security Personnel Fund; in school security, further providing for duties of commission and providing for school security personnel and for School Security Personnel Fund; in school health services, further providing for vision screening and examinations; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for establishment and payment of tuition; in administrative partnerships between school entities, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions, providing for instructional programming partnerships authorized, for school district feasibility study and for construction and further providing for establishment, for application, for grant awards, for technical assistance, for reports by school entities and for reports by department; in talent recruitment, further providing for Talent Recruitment Account; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements, for powers of board of trustees, for facilities and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification and providing for enrollee wellness checks and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; in disability inclusive curriculum, further providing for department responsibilities; in Schools-to-Work-Program, repealing provisions relating to expiration; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations, for tax credits and for limitations, repealing provisions relating to opportunity scholarships and providing for economically disadvantaged school scholarships; in course materials at institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to College Textbook Policies Advisory Committee; in sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking education, prevention and response at institutions of higher education and private licensed schools, further providing for memorandum of understanding; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to Public Higher Education Funding Commission; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2024-2025; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums and for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, further providing for State reimbursement for health services, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Commonwealth reimbursements for charter schools and cyber charter schools, repealing provisions relating to administrative and instructional consolidation incentives and further providing for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in State Board of Education, further providing for powers and duties of the board; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; in School Environmental Repairs Program, further providing for School Environmental Repairs Program Restricted Account and for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making editorial changes.

PA SB33

Providing for comprehensive school counseling services.

PA HB662

Providing for comprehensive school counseling services.

PA HB1665

Providing for comprehensive school counseling services.

PA HB341

In intermediate units, repealing provisions relating to psychological services; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and providing for school social workers; and, in school health services, further providing for health services and providing for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and school nurses.

PA SB632

In school security, providing for school safety form.

Similar Bills

IL HB1113

SCH CD-CHAPLAINS

AZ SB1269

Public schools; volunteer chaplains; authorization

NC H939

School Chaplains

SC S0122

School Chaplains

UT HB0514

School Chaplain Amendments

SC H3798

Military chaplains

LA SB123

Provides relative to the employment or acceptance of volunteer chaplains in public schools. (gov sig)

IA HF884

A bill for an act authorizing school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to employ chaplains, or engage volunteer chaplains, to provide services to students. (Formerly HF 334.)