Provides for the establishment of a voluntary chaplaincy program for the public schools

1 Co-sponsor

• John L. Sampson

BILL NUMBER:S859

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing for a voluntary chaplaincy program for the public schools

Purpose of bill

This measure will provide spiritual guidance for the students of New York State by creating a Non-Denominational School Chaplaincy Program.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Amends the Education Law by adding a new Section l502-b. Creates a voluntary chaplaincy program in every school district. Provides that the services of such chaplains shall be made available to students eighteen years of age or older. Requires the consent of a student's parent or guardian to receive a referral for such services if such student is less than eighteen years of age. Authorizes the Commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations to implement this section.

Section 2. Effective Date

Existing law

None.

Justification

There are many pressures and stresses that youth struggle with on a day to day basis. Due to these societal and personal pressures, kids, whether they are from an inner city neighborhood, an affluent suburb or a rural farming community, sometimes need the option of receiving spiritual guidance. This legislation is aimed at creating a Non-Denominational School Chaplaincy Program and is modeled on the non-sectarian Chaplaincy Boards of Police, Fire and Correctional Departments, municipal hospitals and the various branches of the United States Armed Forces. This measure calls for qualified and experienced chaplains, drawn from those agencies and representing the full spectrum for religious affiliations, to volunteer their time to the students of New York State. Built into the Non-Denominational School Chaplaincy Bill will be those provisions that will, as a matter of course, respect the diversity and diverse values of our State's families. Chaplains will serve a student according to that student's own belief, or lack thereof. This will be done without, in any way, imposing the Chaplain's own religious background.

Prior legislative history

2012: S.377 - Referred to Education/A.1112 - Referred to Education 2011: S.377 - Defeated in Education/A.1112 - Referred to Education 2009-10: S.3152 - Referred to Education/A.8847 - Referred to Education 2007-08: S.771 - Referred to Education/A.3130 - Referred to Education 2005-06: S.819 - Referred to Education/A.2812 - Referred to Education 2003-04: S.5043 - Referred to Education/A.4221 - Referred to Education 2001-02: A.4814 - Referred to Education 1999-00: A.3152 - Referred to Education

Fiscal implication

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law, with provisions.