Chaplains for public schools proposal reemerges in new bill

Proposed legislation that would allow public school districts to hire faith-based chaplains has reemerged in the form of a once-dormant bill.

Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, has amended a dormant measure, Senate Bill 36, to allow public school districts to employ chaplains or accept chaplains as volunteers to provide support, services and programs for students. The chaplains could not be registered sex offenders. They also would not be required to be certified by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The chaplaincy language completely replaces the bill's original language.

SB 36 was considered on Tuesday by the House General Government Committee, which West leads as chairman. It advanced out of that committee, which means it likely will be considered soon by the House. SB 36 is similar to a bill passed into law in 2023 in Texas.

More: Should chaplains be allowed in Oklahoma's public schools? Lawmakers, faith leaders sound off

SB 36 essentially includes the same language as three chaplaincy bills that did not move forward during the current legislative session because they did not make it out of committee. Those bills were House Bill 3122, authored by Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole; House Bill 3543, authored by Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle; and Senate Bill 1984, authored by Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee.

Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, said SB 36 was a bill he co-authored with Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, regarding law enforcement equipment. It did not have enough support during last year's legislative session to move forward to become law. Echols said he had no qualms about allowing West to have the bill. West could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

"He asked me if he could have my bill, and I said 'yes,'" Echols said. "I would vote for this bill."

More: Bills to hire chaplains for public schools dead for now, but critics remain vigilant

New bill has support and critics

The Rev. Shannon Fleck, executive director of the Oklahoma Faith Network, said she had been on the lookout for legislators to insert the language of the previous chaplaincy bills into other proposed language. Tuesday, she said the Oklahoma Faith Network opposed the previous chaplaincy bills and they oppose SB 36, as well.

"We were confident that we were going to see this language reemerge this session, and sure enough, here it is reappearing later in the session, Fleck said. "But, again, we maintain that this is bad for schools, it's bad for kids. It's bad for everyone all the way around."

Fleck said the bill would open the door for "a multitude of adults to come into our schools and have influence with our children without any level of education, certification qualification."

"It opens the door wide for anybody claiming to be a faith leader to have access to our children. It's dangerous, and we should be unequivocally opposed for the protection of our young people," she said.

Rob Abiera shared concerns of his own. Abiera said he is an administrator for the Oklahomans For the Separation of Church and State Facebook page he uses to network with other activists and pass along information of interest.

"I'll just say that our elected officials appear to be pulling a fast one on us once again," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, this is dishonest. It's also a demonstration of insecurity on their part. If they're so convinced this is what their constituents want, why hide it? Unfortunately, the right has become increasingly outspoken about no longer caring about the will of the people — Donald Trump's recent assertions to the contrary notwithstanding."

But Echols and Johnny Davis, chief development director of the Norman-based National School Chaplain Association, said they can't believe the bill has detractors because it will ultimately help school students. Echols said by the time the bill advances to the House, West will likely be the primary author.

"At the end of the day, what we want to do is help kids," Echols said. "I mean, I'm shocked that it's controversial."

Hunt said chaplains are already in some public schools on a volunteer basis.

Davis said he was pleased to learn that West had moved the chaplaincy legislation forward.

"This is not anything new — it just codifies it and makes it stronger at the state level," Davis said. "It's kind of odd that people have a problem with it. Trauma care, holistic care ― everyone benefits from that."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma lawmakers reintroduce chaplains in public schools bill