House Bill 240
Summary of House Bill 240
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DESCRIPTION
Allows school districts, community schools, STEM schools to employ or use volunteer chaplains as unlicensed school counselors TARGETS School Districts Community Schools STEM Schools |
PRIMARY SPONSOR(S)
Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus COMMITTEE House Primary and Secondary Education Committee INTRODUCED July 11, 2023 HEARINGS Watch Hearings | Read Testimony Sponsor Testimony BILL General Info | Bill Text | Analysis Amendments |
What does House Bill 240 do?
HB 240 allows schools to hire or use chaplains as unlicensed, untrained school school counselors.
NOTE: “Chaplain” is not explained or defined in the bill.
NOTE: “Chaplain” is not explained or defined in the bill.
A school district, community school, or STEM school would be permitted to employ chaplains to provide support, services, and programs for students.
Chaplain services may be offered in addition to, but not in lieu of, school counselor services.
Each school district or school would be permitted to establish the requirements and procedures needed to implement this law.
Chaplains would NOT be required to apply for a license or certification with the state board of education.
Each chaplain would be subject to a criminal records check per ORC 3319.391.
- The district could also accept chaplains as volunteers for these services rather than employing them.
Chaplain services may be offered in addition to, but not in lieu of, school counselor services.
Each school district or school would be permitted to establish the requirements and procedures needed to implement this law.
Chaplains would NOT be required to apply for a license or certification with the state board of education.
Each chaplain would be subject to a criminal records check per ORC 3319.391.
- The chaplain would be required to submit their criminal records check to the department of education and register with the department during the period in which they are employed by or volunteering at the school district or school.
- If the department of education receives notification of the arrest or conviction of one of these chaplains, the department must “promptly” notify the school district or school.
- The department would also be permitted to take any action authorized under ORC 3319.31 and ORC 3319.311 that it considers appropriate.
- The department of education would not be permitted to accept the application of any chaplain if the department learns that the individual:
- has pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed in ORC 3319.31 division C
- has been found guilty by a jury or court of any of the offenses listed in ORC 3319.31 division C
- has been convicted of any of the offenses listed in ORC 3319.31 division C
Honesty's Position
OPPOSE
HB 240 is another intentionally vague and ambiguous bill that leaves room for dangerous interpretation and manipulation. The bill does not explain or define "chaplain" nor does it provide information about how the chaplain would engage students.
HB 240 unnecessarily lowers professional standards and qualifications for school staff. School counselors in Ohio are required to receive specialized education, training, and carry a Professional Pupil Services license in school counseling. HB 240 eliminates those standards, subjecting students to unqualified, incompetent, unprofessional make-shift school counselors. Ohio should uphold high standards and qualifications for all education staff, administrators, and teachers, not lower and eliminate them. Allowing any unqualified, untrained person to directly engage with young students in a school setting is dangerous and irresponsible.
Ohio should respect and maintain the Constitutionally prescribed separation of church and state, especially in public school settings. Public schools should not prioritize or make exceptions to hire or onboard particular faiths as staff, especially roles with one-to-one engagement with students. HB 240 does not provide any guidelines or safeguards around how the chaplain with engage students, especially from a religious or non-religious perspective. This is very concerning since school counselors help students navigate deeply personal, challenging situations, often at their most vulnerable. This bill would allow faith leaders to impose their religious principles and values on a student, inappropriately influencing, coercing, or offending that student.
HB 240 is a state-sanctioned opportunity for extremists and religious zealots to proselytize non-Christian students and dehumanize LGBTQ+ students in public schools. This bill has no home in Ohio.
HB 240 unnecessarily lowers professional standards and qualifications for school staff. School counselors in Ohio are required to receive specialized education, training, and carry a Professional Pupil Services license in school counseling. HB 240 eliminates those standards, subjecting students to unqualified, incompetent, unprofessional make-shift school counselors. Ohio should uphold high standards and qualifications for all education staff, administrators, and teachers, not lower and eliminate them. Allowing any unqualified, untrained person to directly engage with young students in a school setting is dangerous and irresponsible.
Ohio should respect and maintain the Constitutionally prescribed separation of church and state, especially in public school settings. Public schools should not prioritize or make exceptions to hire or onboard particular faiths as staff, especially roles with one-to-one engagement with students. HB 240 does not provide any guidelines or safeguards around how the chaplain with engage students, especially from a religious or non-religious perspective. This is very concerning since school counselors help students navigate deeply personal, challenging situations, often at their most vulnerable. This bill would allow faith leaders to impose their religious principles and values on a student, inappropriately influencing, coercing, or offending that student.
HB 240 is a state-sanctioned opportunity for extremists and religious zealots to proselytize non-Christian students and dehumanize LGBTQ+ students in public schools. This bill has no home in Ohio.
RESOURCES
IN THE NEWS
- Ohio School Counselor Association
- Faith perspective: LOVEBoldly graphics HERE
- American School Counselor Association recommends one counselor for every 250 students, only 2 states, Vermont and New Hampshire, met that criterion in 2022
- Ohio has 1 counselor for every 403 students on average, according to data compiled by youth mental health provider Charlie Health
IN THE NEWS
- New Ohio bill would allow unlicensed chaplains to work in public schools
- Chaplains in public schools? Ohio Republicans propose letting clergy counsel students
- Volunteer chaplains are not trained counselors, and should not serve that role in Ohio’s public schools
- Ohio Republicans propose allowing chaplains in public schools
- Should chaplains serve as school counselors if needed? Debate is coming to Ohio
- Ohio Republicans push for chaplains in schools in new bill
- New Texas law allowing chaplains in public schools could be a model for other states, Stateline
- Opinion: Ohio Republicans want chaplains in public schools. So let’s give them Pagan Priestesses and LGBTQ+ affirming pastors
- Opinion: Bill would let chaplains provide mental health support to students in schools
- Opinion: Do we really want clergy counseling public school students after the church sex-abuse scandals?
- Opinion: Leave faith-based counseling up to parents, not schools
- Opinion: Chaplains not for public schools
Testimony
**Do NOT submit testimony until the appropriate hearing is announced**
HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY
STEP 1:
PREPARE YOUR TESTIMONY
Read tips for preparing and submitting testimony HERE
STEP 2:
EMAIL TESTIMONY DOCUMENTS TO COMMITTEE
Email a PDF of your testimony & this completed Witness Slip to pending
**IMPORTANT**
Do NOT send your testimony until the appropriate hearing is announced.
You must submit your testimony 24 hours ahead of the scheduled hearing.
Indicate in your email that you are submitting testimony and ask for a confirmation of receipt.
All testimony will be uploaded pending
STEP 3:
ARRIVE EARLY FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY
Arrive at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled hearing
There is convenient parking in the Statehouse Parking Garage