A bill that would allow Alabama school districts to permit campus chaplains to provide support services for educators advanced Wednesday after receiving a favorable report from the House Education Policy Committee. The bill currently has 13 co-sponsors.
House Bill 8, sponsored by Representative Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, is a reintroduction of legislation considered during the previous legislative session, when it passed committee but did not reach a chamber vote.
Gidley told lawmakers the measure returns largely unchanged, though he said concerns raised last year were addressed through discussions with the Alabama Association of School Boards and committee members.
HB8 would not require school systems to adopt a campus chaplain program, but gives local school boards the authority to decide whether to allow chaplains to offer voluntary support services within their districts.
“This bill does not require a school board to adopt this. It just requires them to make the decision, yes or no,” Gidley said.
If a local school board voted in the affirmative, “a campus chaplain may be made available to provide support, services, and programs at the request of any teacher in the local school district.” Under the bill, boards must vote to either accept or reject participation, reinforcing what supporters described as local control.
The chaplains envisioned under the bill would primarily serve as a support resource for teachers and school staff, rather than students. Gidley said the intent is to provide educators with access to someone they may feel comfortable speaking with during periods of stress, anxiety or personal difficulty.
“This is directed to give our teachers the same support we give our law enforcement, our military, hospitals, and on down the line,” Gidley said. “Teachers are dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety and may not feel comfortable going to some of their peers.”
Committee members emphasized that participation would be permissive, not mandatory. Baker sought clarification on that point, asking whether the bill preserved discretion at the local level.
Lawmakers also revisited concerns raised during last year’s debate, including whether the presence of chaplains could lead to proselytizing in public schools. Representative Terri Collins, R-Decatur, said revisions and clarifications make clear that chaplains would serve in a role similar to those found in military or hospital settings and would not be permitted to proselytize.
After discussion, the committee voted unanimously to give the bill a favorable report. HB8 now moves forward for further consideration by the full House.
