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House Engrossed Senate Bill
public schools; volunteer chaplains; authorization |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
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SENATE BILL 1269 |
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AN ACT
amending title 15, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-120.05; relating to public schools.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-120.05, to read:
15-120.05. Volunteer school chaplains; school policies; posting; parental consent; qualifications; definitions
A. School district governing boards and charter school governing bodies may allow volunteer school chaplains to provide support, services or programs, or any combination of support, services and programs, to students. Each school district governing board and charter school governing body that allows volunteer SCHOOL chaplains shall adopt a policy that includes all of the following:
1. A description of the support, services or programs, or combination of support, services and programs, that the volunteer school chaplain may provide to students.
2. Procedures for each school that is operated by a school district or charter school to develop and maintain a list of volunteer school chaplains who may provide support, services or programs, or any combination of support, services and programs, to students enrolled in the school district or charter school. A list developed pursuant to this paragraph must include the religious affiliation, if any, of each volunteer school chaplain. The school district or charter school shall post the list developed pursuant to this paragraph on the website of the school district or charter school. The principal at each school shall ensure that each volunteer school chaplain does all of the following before the volunteer school chaplain may be included in the list developed pursuant to this paragraph:
(a) Satisfies the requirements prescribed in section 15-512 for school personnel who are not paid employees.
(b) Demonstrates that the volunteer school chaplain is an official member in a local religious group.
(c) Holds a bachelor's degree.
(d) Either:
(i) Holds a graduate degree in counseling or theology.
(ii) Has at least seven years of experience serving as a chaplain.
(e) Has at least two years of experience serving as a chaplain in a local religious group.
(f) Signs a statement attesting that the volunteer school chaplain will not teach or encourage students to engage in conduct that is contrary to the academic standards adopted by the state board of education pursuant to section 15-701 or 15-701.01.
(g) Demonstrates a sincere desire to both:
(i) meet the objectives, if any, in the school district's or charter school's policy relating to volunteer school chaplains.
(ii) enhance student welfare.
3. A requirement that each individual school at which a volunteer school chaplain provides support, services or programs, or any combination of support, services and programs, do all of the following:
(a) Notify all parents and guardians of students that the support, services or programs are available.
(b) Obtain written consent from a student's parent or guardian before the student may receive support or services from a volunteer school chaplain or participate in a program provided by a volunteer school chaplain.
(c) Provide each student's parent or guardian an opportunity to select a volunteer school chaplain from the list developed pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subsection at the time the parent or guardian provides written consent pursuant to subdivision (b) of this paragraph.
B. The principal at each school may refuse to include any volunteer school chaplain on the list developed pursuant to subsection A of this section if the principal determines that either:
1. the volunteer school chaplain Fails to meet the requirements prescribed by subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section.
2. Allowing the volunteer school chaplain to provide support, services or programs to students will be contrary to the pedagogical interests of the school.
C. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Chaplain" means an individual who is officially authorized by the leadership of a religious group, pursuant to the religious group's governing principles, to conduct religious exercises.
2. "Local religious group" means a religious group that meets at least one time per month at a location within the boundaries of the school district in which the school is located.
3. "Religious group" means an organized group that meets all of the following:
(a) Is led, supervised or counseled by a hierarchy of teachers, clergy, sages or priests.
(b) acknowledges the existence of and worships one or more supernatural entities that possess power over the natural world.
(c) Regularly engages in a ceremony, ritual or protocol.
(d) Imposes moral duties that are independent of any individual's self-interest.