KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two pieces of legislation authorizing chaplains in public schools and "patriotic" organizations to come to schools and increase student participation.
He signed these bills at a press conference Thursday morning at Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee. We broke down what each new law entails.
This law will implement a state-wide school chaplain program allowing school districts and charter schools to have volunteer chaplains.
For students to receive counseling and support from the chaplains, parents have to provide written consent. Schools also must have a list of chaplains coming to schools and their religious affiliations for parents to view and chaplains will be required to undergo background screenings
“No one is being forced to do anything,” DeSantis said. “To exclude religious groups from schools is discrimination.”
Students should have the right to pursue counseling from religious leaders if they want to, he said.
It was sponsored by Rep. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, and Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville and passed in the House 89-25 and in the Senate 28-12.
Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, voted against the bill and said it was an issue of separating church and state.
“Many of you are quite religious, and you use that to guide your voting and your principles and your bill proposals, and that’s fine. But the minute that you try to put your religion upon other people, that’s when it becomes a problem,” she said in a Senate meeting.
This law will allow patriotic organizations to come to schools, speak to students and provide opportunities for students to join.
These organizations can include Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Future Farmers of America, Little League Baseball, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.
“When you are engaged in extracurricular activities that's gonna be a net positive for these students,” DeSantis said.
The governor said districts will have to notify parents about the organizations that will be in the school, and parents will have the option to withdraw their kids from learning about the organizations.
It was sponsored by Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, and unanimously passed by the House and Senate.
Both laws will go into effect on July 1.
