Tonight calls of concern over a recently signed Florida bill
to put chaplains in schools.
This month, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill
931 Now it allows public school districts to let volunteer
religious chaplains on campus to provide support services and programs
for students.
Now groups on both sides of the aisle in our
area worry about its impact.
WPT VS Kate Hussey is pressing for answers
An age-old debate
church versus state. Now some in our area fear a
new Florida bill threatens the 1st Amendment that separates the
two.
They're going to be proselytizing in the in our schools.
State Senator Lori Berman of Palm Beach County isn't the
only one sounding the alarm over Treasure Coast.
Senator Aaron growls. Chaplains in Schools bill
signed by Governor DeSantis this month that allows volunteer chaplains
on public school campuses.
It's voluntary for both districts and parents,
but Bourbon's main concern The bill doesn't require chaplains to
have certification,
training or a true religious affiliation.
And the bill actually says all you have to have
is a
fingerprint check. I worry that these people are going to
be
adversely affecting our children psychologically because who knows what kind
of information they're going to be telling the children and
they're the parents aren't there.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida also condemning it
as a quote,
unconstitutional effort to impose religion on public school students.
Well, Berman also worries it opens the door for unvetted
predators.
Somebody who's a predator could could hold themselves out and
say,
I'm a member of this church and I want to
come in and and and unfortunately get access to children.
Some conservative groups, like Moms for Liberty of Indie River
County,
have supported the bill. So long as parents get a
say.
I think it'll be a positive thing to have more
people that want to,
you know, help children. But now the Satanic Temple says
they want ministers on campus,
too. Some folks originally in support are switching sides.
That makes me want to think maybe we should just
keep maybe all of it out
and just I know I just like completely,
like flip-flopped and reversed, DeSantis,
in response, said in this press conference.
That's not going to happen because the Temple quote is
not an actual religion.
We looked it up on the IR s s website,
which shows the temple is a tax exempt religious organization,
a representative for the temple tells me in an e-mail
They plan to sue if not allowed on school grounds,
and Berman says they do have that right.
We we absolutely ask those questions of the bill sponsor
and she said there is nothing that can be done
to limit any religion.
I'm very hopeful that Palm Beach County
won't implement it because it is a voluntary program.
We did reach out to all five school districts in
our area to see if they'll be implementing the Chapel
program.
Only Martin County so far have gotten back to me
telling me they haven't yet made a decision as the
bill was just signed and doesn't take effect until July.
We also reached out in multiple ways and multiple times
to Senator Graw to address concerns she hasn't yet gotten
back to us
on the Treasure Coast. Kate Hussey,
WPTV News Channel 5.