DeSantis signs bill allowing chaplains in public schools
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. DeSantis signed a pair of education bills while speaking at Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee on Thursday.
HB 1317 allows school districts the ability to bring representatives of “patriotic organizations” such as Future Farmers of America or the Boys and Girls Club of America onto campus to speak with or distribute materials to students, according to the governor.
DeSantis stressed that parents would still have the opportunity to opt their child out of learning about any outside organizations being brought in to the schools.
HB 931 authorizes school districts to allow volunteer school chaplains as long as they meet certain background screening requirements.
DeSantis addressed concerns that the program would allow for satanists to have access to students, saying Satanism is “not a religion” and chaplains with such beliefs would not be allowed to participate in the program.
The Florida governor said he viewed the religious chaplain program the same way he views military chaplains, saying students could benefit from mentorship services a school chaplain may provide and that the founding fathers would be in support of the bill.
You can watch the press conference on this page.
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