This bill would allow schools, including charter schools, to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a school chaplain under certain circumstances. The school chaplain can only provide secular advice or guidance unless the student and their parent gives consent for nonsecular advice, guidance, and support services.
This bill would violate important separation of church and state constitutional protections. The primary role of chaplains is to provide pastoral or religious counseling to people in spiritual need. Allowing them to assume official positions—whether paid or voluntary—in public schools will create an environment ripe for religious coercion and indoctrination of students.
