A House committee is advancing a bill requiring schools to implement chaplain or volunteer policies.
The bill sparked debate over local control and religious freedom.
Aberdeen Republican Al Novstrup is the bill’s sponsor. He said it allows for local input.
“One of the things that we’re doing with this policy that we’re asking school boards to do, we’re giving them local control," Novstrap said. "They get to make the policy. They get to decide what the qualifications are for the chaplain, they get to decide the duties of the chaplain.”
Supporters say it doesn’t interfere with policies already in place.
But opponents – including the ACLU – say it violates student’s First Amendment rights.
Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Amber Arlint said the bill raises new concerns.
“As a mom who actually has children in the school district right now, I’m not worried about getting sued. What I am worried about is somebody having a conversation with my kid at school that I know nothing about, that I didn’t authorize,” Arlint said.
The House Education Committee passed it in a 10 to five vote, the SDBA reports. It next heads to the House floor.