86R1395 MEW-D By: Lang H.B. No. 1582 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of a school district or open-enrollment charter school to employ or provide chaplains. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.910 to read as follows: Sec. 33.910. CHAPLAINS. (a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may employ chaplains or provide volunteer chaplains at district or school campuses to assist: (1) district or school students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators with stress management; or (2) school counselors or social workers with performing their assigned duties. (b) A chaplain who is employed by or serves as a volunteer at a school district or open-enrollment charter school under this section is immune from civil liability to the same extent as a professional employee of a school district under Subchapter B, Chapter 22. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.