DeSantis signed a new law allowing chaplains into schools. Here's what you need to know

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new bill into law on Thursday that allows school districts to implement volunteer chaplain programs.

The school chaplain bill, HB 931, drew attention after the Satanic Temple announced that it was planning to send members to participate in the program.

While signing the bill, DeSantis dismissed the idea by saying it wasn’t a religion.

“That is not a religion,” DeSantis said. “That is not qualifying to be able to participate in this.”

Florida school chaplain bill passes: Florida lawmakers pass contentious bill allowing for chaplains in public schools

The Satanic Temple, which touts itself as an organization that “fights a perceived intrusion of Christian values on American politics,” is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt church.

School districts aren’t mandated to implement such a program, and it is ultimately up to parents to decide whether their child participates. Here’s what to know about Florida’s new school chaplain law.

What is HB 931?

Florida HB 931 is a bill meant to address students’ mental health needs. It outlines a policy Florida school districts and charters could use to implement volunteer school chaplain programs. Here’s an overview of what the bill entails:

Policy adoption: School districts or charter schools may adopt a policy authorizing volunteer school chaplains to provide support, services and programs to students as assigned by the district school board or charter school governing board.

Policy requirements: Here are the minimum requirements each policy must follow:

• Schools must describe the support, services or programs that volunteer school chaplains may be assigned.

• School principals must inform parents of the availability of these services or programs.

• Parents must submit written consent before students can participate in or receive services, support or programs. Additionally, parents are permitted to select a chaplain from the list provided by the school district, which must include each chaplain’s religious affiliation, if any.

Background screening: Volunteer school chaplains must meet the requirements of Section 1012.467 or 1012.468 of Florida Statutes.

Chaplain list: Finally, any school district or charter that adopts a school chaplain policy must publish a list of the volunteers, including any religious affiliation, on their website.

What are opponents saying about Florida school chaplains?

The Tallahassee Democrat reported that opponents of the bill were quick to criticize it as they contemplated the controversial consequences of allowing religion in schools.

Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book of Plantation asked whether religious rituals could be performed in schools. She wondered if schools allowed for them, could they prevent ones involving animal sacrifices?

“It doesn’t divest the obligations that the school district and those schools already have with regard to overall school safety,” said bill sponsor Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce. “I think that the example you give is just not one that there’s a likelihood or really authorization for within this bill.”

“So then you support limiting the religious rites that could occur in schools?” Book shot back. (When a USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida reporter asked whether Book said “rites” or “rights,” her representative said she meant it as a double entendre.)

Local groups have opposed the bill, too.

Shapiro believes that since it is unlikely for there to be multiple chaplains, each representing a different religion, the bill “does not respond to the diversity of the student body.”

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that the Atlantic Coast chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State is headquartered in Flagler County and opposed to chaplains serving in public schools for a few reasons, according to its president, Rabbi Merrill Shapiro, the first being that school and religion should not overlap.

The organization finds it “troublesome” that certain religions require proclaiming beliefs and bringing others to their beliefs.

“Christian chaplains, Christian ministers, who come in as chaplains to the schools, volunteer and free, are still enjoined by the gospel to proclaim Jesus as the Lord,” Shapiro said. “Where does that leave the Buddhists? The Hindu? The Muslim? The Jewish students? They’re being pressured to leave the faith of their ancestors and to leave their family’s beliefs, and come over to Christianity.”

Satanic Temple chaplains in Florida: Satanic Temple 'looks forward to participating' if Florida school chaplain bill passes

What are supporters saying?

The bill's supporters believe that its passage would be a win for students as it would help address concerns about mental health and the need for more school counselors.

"I believe that sometimes the issue is with the soul and not of the mind, and that's why I believe that this is a good option for our students in today's day and age," said Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills.

Grall, who sponsored the bill, emphasized that schools can create their own, more extensive requirements, which would be displayed on school websites. She also noted that parents could pick which chaplain their student met with.

Grall also expressed surprise at the controversy surrounding the bill.

"We've had chaplains in our public institutions for centuries," she said. "Chaplaincy is something that we all have probably had individual and unique experiences."

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida OKs school chaplains. Here's what you need to know about law