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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
SENATE BILL 590 By: Prieto
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to schools; allowing a school
district or public charter school to employ or accept
as a volunteer one or more chaplains; exempting
chaplains from certification requirements; defining
term; requiring school districts and public charter
schools to request certain record check; prohibiting
a school district or public charter school from
employing or accepting as a volunteer individuals
subject to certain registry; prohibiting a student or
school employee from being required to seek support
or services from an employed or volunteer chaplain;
providing for codification; providing an effective
date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6-101.9 of Title 70, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. A school district or public charter school may employ or
accept as a volunteer one or more chaplains to provide support,
services, and programs for school employees and students as assigned
by the school district board of education or the governing body of
the charter school. A chaplain employed or volunteering pursuant to
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the provisions of this subsection shall not be required to be
certified by the State Board of Education. For the purposes of this
section, “chaplain” means an ordained or authorized pastor,
minister, priest, or other ecclesiastical dignitary of any
denomination who has been duly ordained or authorized by the church
to which such person belongs.
B. 1. A school district or public charter school that employs
or accepts as a volunteer one or more chaplains pursuant to
subsection A of this section shall request that the Oklahoma State
Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) provide a national criminal history
record check for the employed or volunteer chaplain or chaplains
prior to the individual working or volunteering at the school
district or public charter school. The national criminal history
record check shall comply with the provisions of Section 5-142 of
Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
2. A school district or public charter school shall not employ
or accept as a volunteer a chaplain who has been convicted of or is
a defendant for an offense that requires the defendant to register
as a sex offender.
C. No student or school employee shall be required to seek
support or services from an employed or volunteer chaplain.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
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declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
60-1-626 EB 1/19/2025 5:39:25 AM