DeSantis signs law allowing religious chaplains into schools, satanists to be excluded

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on Thursday allowing for schools to create a volunteer chaplain program to provide support services for students.

He noted that the state won’t allow satanists to take advantage of the program, saying satanism is “not a religion.”

The governor also signed a bill allowing for “patriotic organizations” to be invited to public schools in order to share resources with students, such as the Boy Scouts of America.

DeSantis emphasized the state’s many efforts to support students in various ways, both in regard to mental health and academics.

“The reality is, I think what we’re doing is really restoring the sense of purpose that our founding fathers wanted to see in the education,” he said.

The volunteer chaplain program will allow faith-based leaders to provide support, services and programs, as defined by each school board or charter school that chooses to allow for the position.

The bill, HB 931, states that statutory background checks and screenings will take place before any volunteer chaplain interacts with minors.

If they choose to participate, parents will be able to elect a chaplain for their child from a list provided by the school district. The list must indicate the chaplain’s religious affiliation. All chaplain names and their affiliations will be published on the school district’s website for public knowledge.

“It’s our view that if school districts want to bring in chaplains to offer voluntary services, that they’re within their rights to do so,” DeSantis said.

“Students can receive this support from chaplains if their parents provide written consent for them to do so,” he added. “So if the parents aren’t interested in that, than the students don’t have to be involved in it by any means.”

He reassured school districts who may be concerned about litigation that its completely reasonable for chaplains to offer volunteer services and for parents to willingly consent for their children to receive those services.

DeSantis also confidently expressed that Florida will not allow for the Church of Satan to influence students in schools.

“We’re not playing those games here in Florida,” he said. “That is not a religion, that is not qualifying to be able to participate in this. So we’re going to be using common sense when it comes to this, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’ communications director, responded to such notion, “Hell: no.”

Osceola County School Superintendent Mark Shanoff thanked the governor and the legislature for their work to expand opportunities and resources for students in public schools.

“In my 18 years as a teacher and a school based principal, the most successful years were those when my schools had strong ties with our faith-based supports,” he said. “This materialized primarily in the form of mentorship, advocacy and parental empowerment.”

The legislation was sponsored by Reps. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, and Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce.

The patriotic organization bill, HB 1317, allows schools to bring groups like Little League Baseball, and the Boys and Girls Club of America to school in order for students to learn about opportunities and resources that they can take advantage of.

The bill explains that a representative of the organization may be invited to the school during classroom hours to distribute educational material and engage with students who show interest.

DeSantis mentioned that if a parent doesn’t feel comfortable having their children exposed to the organizations, they are able to have them temporarily removed from the class.

He added how a lot of the programs and resources that will now be offered to more students also helped him while he was growing up.

Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, spoke up on the bill, thanking the governor and legislature for getting it passed and signed.

He also mentioned his involvement in community support groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and how the organization has the ability to transform the lives of adolescents.

“Of the youth that participate in Big Brother Big Sisters, 90% say that their mentors helped them make better decisions,” he said. “93% are being promoted to the next grade level and 99% were not arrested and involved in the criminal justice system.”

Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, and Sen. Tom Wright, R-Port Orange, sponsored the bill.

Both pieces of legislation are set to go into effect on July 1.