Section 16-1-20.7

(a) For the purposes of this section, the term “public school” means any public K-12 school or public charter school. (b)(1) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each local board of education and the governing body of each public charter school may take a recorded vote on whether to adopt a policy authorizing a public school under its jurisdiction to accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer under this section. (2) If a local board of education or the governing body of a public charter school votes to accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer, a campus chaplain may be made available to provide support, services, and programs at the request of any teacher in the local school district. (c)(1) A campus chaplain volunteering under this section is not required to be certified by the State Board of Education. (2) Each campus chaplain volunteering under this section must have completed a recognized chaplain training program. (d) A public school that accepts a campus chaplain as a volunteer under this section, before the campus chaplain may begin volunteering, shall ensure that the campus chaplain complies with Section 16-22A-5, relating to criminal history background information check requirements. (e) A public school may not accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer who has been adjudicated or convicted of an offense that requires registration as a sex offender under Chapter 20A of Title 15.