House committee advances amended chaplain-in-schools bill to House with no recommendation

The House Education Committee on [date not specified in transcript] approved an amendment to House Bill 1456 and later voted to send the amended bill to the full House with no recommendation.

The committee adopted an amendment that would remove language appearing on page 2, section 2, lines 3 through 10 of the bill. The amendment was seconded and the roll call recorded a majority, after which the chairman announced, “That amendment carries.”

Committee members next considered a motion from Representative Morton for a “due pass” recommendation on the bill. That motion was seconded and a roll call produced a 7-7 tie; Chairman Heinert announced the result: “So we have a tie vote, 7 7 on a due pass so that motion fails.”

Representative Haddlestead then moved a “do not pass” recommendation on the bill as amended. After discussion, the roll call on the do-not-pass motion again resulted in a 7-7 tie. Representative Hager moved to send the bill to the floor with no recommendation. That motion, seconded by Representative Novak, passed on a subsequent roll call; the chairman said, “That motion passes 14. Carrier for the bill.”

Committee discussion during the hearing focused on two practical points in the bill text. Representative Hager noted that lines assigning responsibility for costs of background checks to local school boards would create an expense for districts: “All costs associated with the background checks for chaplains that are coming in are the responsibility of the school board.” Several members warned that the expense could grow if a board sought multiple chaplains to represent different faiths.

Other committee members said chaplains already volunteer in many districts and that the bill mainly clarifies options available to parents and schools. Representative Morton said parents and students may be unaware that noncertified chaplains can already be used by schools and described the bill as making that option clearer. Representative Jonas raised concerns about religious influence, asking whether chaplains could “dictate religious views on students” or would be “there to help.” Representative Marshall and others emphasized language in testimony distinguishing “spiritual” support from proselytizing.

The committee recorded formal votes and tie results on both a motion for a due pass and a motion for do not pass; because both motions failed to produce a majority, the committee ultimately forwarded House Bill 1456 as amended to the House floor with no recommendation. The committee did not adopt any additional amendments during the floor-carry explanation.

The bill now moves to the full House; committee members noted the practice for carrying a “no recommendation” report is to explain the committee’s votes and, if desired, the carrier may request permission from the Speaker to express a personal position on the floor.

No committee action (final adoption, rejection, or other disposition) by the full House was recorded in the transcript.