Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB1041 Compare Versions

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2-HOUSE BILL 1250
3- By Maberry
2+<BillNo> <Sponsor>
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54 SENATE BILL 1041
65 By Bowling
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98 SB1041
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1312 AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
1413 relative to school chaplains.
1514
1615 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
1716 SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by
1817 adding the following as a new section:
1918 (a) A local board of education and public charter school governing body may
2019 employ or accept as a volunteer a school chaplain to provide support, services, and
2120 programs for students, school staff, and students' parents pursuant to this section.
2221 (b) A school chaplain employed or accepted as a volunteer pursuant to this
2322 section is not required to be certified by the state board of education.
2423 (c) A local board of education or public charter school governing body that
2524 employs or accepts as a volunteer a school chaplain shall ensure that the school
2625 chaplain undergoes the criminal history record check required in § 49-5-406 and the
2726 investigations required under § 49-5-413.
2827 (d)
2928 (1) A person does not have a cause of action against a school chaplain
3029 for an action taken or statement made by the school chaplain while the school
3130 chaplain is acting in accordance with this section.
3231 (2) The immunity from liability provided for in this subsection (d) does not
3332 apply to an action or statement made by a school chaplain, if the action or
3433 statement was taken or made maliciously, willfully, and was deliberately intended
34+to cause harm or to harass or intimidate those seeking support, services, and
35+programs from the school chaplain.
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39-to cause harm or to harass or intimidate those seeking support, services, and
40-programs from the school chaplain.
4140 (e) As used in this section "school chaplain" means a member of the clergy who
4241 is credentialed by a religious organization to:
4342 (1) Function in a pluralistic environment; and
4443 (2) Support, directly or indirectly, the free exercise of religion by all
4544 individuals in schools.
4645 SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.