Bill
Bill > HB1391
summary
Introduced
01/20/2025
01/20/2025
In Committee
01/20/2025
01/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act To Allow School Districts And Charter Schools To Employ Or Accept As A Volunteer, A Chaplain To Provide Support, Services And Programs With The School District Or Charter School; To Require Each School District Or Charter Employing Or Allowing A Chaplain To Provide Services To Its Students To Undergo A Criminal Background Check Before Entering The Schools To Carry Out Their Obligations; To Prohibit School Districts And Charter Schools From Employing Or Allowing Individuals Who Are Required To Register As Sex Offenders From Providing Services Within Its Schools; To Amend Section 37-3-93, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require A Quick Response Team Of Personnel Trained In School Safety And Crisis Management By The State Department Of Education To Include Chaplains; To Amend Section 37-7-301, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require Local School Districts To Fund And Operate Improved School Safety And Security Measures, Including Costs Associated With Training And Planning And Programs Provided By Chaplains; To Amend Section 37-11-54, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require Local School Boards To Incorporate Emergency And Threat Management Awareness And Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports Which Include Services Provided By Chaplains; To Provide For The Severability Of Provisions Of This Act Which May Be Deemed Unconstitutional; And For Related Purposes.
AI Summary
This bill allows Mississippi public schools and charter schools to employ or accept volunteer chaplains to provide support and services to students, with several key provisions and requirements. School districts must vote by December 1, 2025, on whether to adopt a policy allowing chaplains, and any chaplain must undergo a criminal background check before working with students. The bill specifically prohibits schools from employing chaplains who are registered sex offenders. Chaplains do not need to be certified by the teacher certification commission and can be employed by individual school boards. The legislation also amends existing state education laws to incorporate chaplains into various school safety and crisis management programs, including quick response teams, mental health support, threat assessment, and conflict resolution initiatives. Chaplains can be part of efforts to provide mental health services, suicide prevention programs, and behavioral intervention supports. The bill emphasizes that chaplain involvement is voluntary and gives local school boards discretion in implementing these provisions. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is found unconstitutional, the remaining provisions will still be valid.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Died In Committee (on 02/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB1391.xml |
| BillText | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2025/html/HB/1300-1399/HB1391IN.htm |
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