North Dakota Legislators consider bill allowing school districts to hire chaplains

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota legislators are considering a bill that would add chaplains to public schools in the state.

HB 1456 would authorize $500,000 from the general fund to give to school districts for the purpose of paying for a chaplain position.

The chaplain may also volunteer for the role.

School districts would not be required to have a chaplain but would have the option available to them.

Chaplains would not need to be licensed by the education standards and practices board. But would be subject to background checks that would be paid for my school districts.

North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders Executive Director Aimee Copas reminded the committee that they considered a similar bill last session.

“We don’t need this law. We use school chaplains all the time. And we can. So long as we follow state and federal guidelines, we can use school chaplains whenever we want. Which is why, last session, you voted down this bill already,” Copas said.

The committee took no further action on the bill.