Florida schools will now have the option to allow a volunteer chaplain on campus to counsel students after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law last week.
HB 931, passed overwhelmingly in both the Florida House and Senate earlier this year by a vote of 89-25 and 28-12, respectively.
The new law will take effect on July 1 and will allow voluntary chaplains to “provide supports, services, and programs to students as assigned by the district school board or charter school governing board.”
The only requirement is chaplains must pass a background check and that school administrators publicize each chaplain’s religious affiliation.
In a press conference last week, DeSantis stressed that the program was voluntary.
“It’s our view that if school districts want to bring in chaplains to offer voluntary services, they’re within their right to do so,” he said.
“It’s totally voluntary for a parent or a student to participate. No one’s being forced to do anything. But to exclude religious groups from campus, that is discrimination. You’re basically saying that God has no place. That’s wrong. That’s not what our Founding Fathers intended,” DeSantis added.
Florida is among more than a dozen states that have sought to create
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