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Read. Follow. Verify.North Carolina bill authorizes public schools to employ or accept volunteer chaplains
Last action · April 14, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Blair Eddins and 9 others
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What This Bill Would Do
North Carolina s are authorized to employ, contract for, or accept volunteer chaplains, provided the school's governing body adopts a chaplain policy and conducts a criminal history check. The measure takes effect when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Local public school boards gain the legal option to integrate chaplains into school staff or volunteer programs, subject to mandatory background reviews by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and specific certification standards.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Public school units
Public school governing bodies gain the authority to adopt chaplain policies, conduct background checks, and choose whether to employ or accept volunteer chaplains.
School chaplains
Chaplains are subject to mandatory certified training, criminal history reviews by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and receive qualified civil immunity.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
The Superintendent is required to review criminal history checks and direct school units to revoke offers or reject volunteers if disqualifying convictions are found.
Key Facts
- The governing body of a public school unit may employ, contract for, or accept as a volunteer a qualified chaplain to serve as a school chaplain.
- School chaplain policies must require certified training through the National School Chaplain Association, Federation of Fire Chaplains, or Association of Law Enforcement Chaplains.
- Policies must include a detailed description of support and services, continuing education requirements, and discipline or termination provisions.
- Before a chaplain begins serving, the school unit must conduct a criminal history check and send a copy to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for review.
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- If the Superintendent finds a conviction for any crime defined in G.S. 115C-332(a)(1), the public school unit must revoke the offer or reject the volunteer.
- School chaplains are granted civil immunity from damages for acts or omissions unless they amount to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing.
- Public school units are not required to hire or accept volunteer chaplains, and employment of a chaplain does not constitute an endorsement of any particular religion.
- The act takes effect when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are public school units forced to hire chaplains under this bill?
What training must a school chaplain possess?
Who reviews the background checks for prospective chaplains?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Apr 14, 2025HouseRef To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Apr 14, 2025HousePassed 1st Reading
- Apr 10, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.ncleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance55How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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