HF 884 (LSB 2254HV (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 884

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 334)

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to employ chaplains, or engage volunteer chaplains, to provide services to students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256E.7, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  j.  Employ chaplains, or engage chaplains to serve without compensation or remuneration, in the same manner as a school district under section 279.87.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256F.4, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  9.  A charter school or innovation zone school may employ chaplains, or engage chaplains to serve without compensation or remuneration, in the same manner as a school district under section 279.87.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  279.87  School chaplains.
   1.  The board of directors of a school district may employ a chaplain, or engage a chaplain to serve without compensation or remuneration, to provide support, services, and programs for students as assigned by the board of directors of the school district.
   2.  a.  Subject to paragraph “b”, the board of directors of a school district may establish qualifications, credentialing, and other requirements related to chaplains who are employed or engaged pursuant to this section.
   b.  The board of directors of a school district shall not require a chaplain employed or engaged under this section to have a license, endorsement, certification, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners.
   3.  The procedure for background investigations and termination established in section 279.69 shall apply to chaplains employed or engaged under this section.
   4.  The board of directors of a school district shall not require or coerce a student to utilize the support, services, or programs provided by a chaplain who is employed or engaged by the board of directors of the school district pursuant to this section.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill authorizes school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to employ chaplains, or engage volunteer chaplains, to provide support, services, and programs for students. These schools may establish qualifications, credentialing, and other requirements related to chaplains who are employed or engaged under the bill’s provisions; however, such chaplains are not required to have a license, endorsement, certification, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners. The bill requires school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to follow the background investigation and termination procedures established under Code section 279.69 when employing chaplains or engaging volunteer chaplains. The bill prohibits school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from requiring or coercing a student to utilize the support, services, or programs provided by a chaplain.