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GA SB379
Bill
Status
Introduced
1/23/2024
Primary Sponsor
Marty Harbin
Click for details
AI Summary
- Local school systems and public schools are authorized to employ or accept as volunteers school chaplains to provide ancillary support, services, and programs for students as assigned by the local superintendent or board of education
- "Chaplain" is defined as a clergy member trained to serve in a secular environment, explicitly excluding any person who is a satanist
- School chaplains are not required to be certificated professional personnel and are exempt from Professional Standards Commission rules and regulations
- Each local board of education or public school governing body must vote publicly by December 31, 2024, on whether to adopt a policy authorizing the employment of school chaplains
- School chaplains are added to the definition of "child protection professional" under child abuse law and are granted access to confidential child abuse report records when counseling a student as part of their school duties, with unauthorized disclosure punishable as a misdemeanor
Legislative Description
"School Chaplains Act"; enact
Last Action
Senate Read Second Time
2/26/2024
Committee Referrals
Government Oversight1/24/2024
Full Bill Text
No bill text available