County Boards of Education - Volunteer Aides - School Chaplain
HB 24 would amend Maryland Education Article § 6-106 to expressly allow each county board of education to use a chaplain as a volunteer aide in schools to provide support services to students. The bill keeps the existing framework for volunteer aides in place, including the rule that volunteer aides may assist school staff but may not replace educational personnel, and it leaves county superintendents responsible for setting local guidelines for volunteer aide use.
The measure also preserves the current legal treatment of volunteer aides as agents of the county board for limited purposes, including liability insurance coverage and workers’ compensation coverage. The bill is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026, and would apply statewide by authorizing, but not requiring, county boards to include chaplains in their volunteer aide programs.
The bill would modify state education law by adding chaplains to the list of individuals county boards may use as volunteer aides in schools. It would not mandate chaplain use, but it would create explicit statutory authority for local school systems to permit chaplains to provide student support services under county-established guidelines. The bill would affect county boards of education, county superintendents, school volunteers, and potentially chaplains serving in public schools, while leaving existing liability and workers’ compensation provisions for volunteer aides unchanged.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded votes or committee testimony in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears to be exploratory and permissive rather than directive. The bill is framed as an authorization for local school systems, suggesting an effort to expand options for student support without imposing a statewide requirement. No formal opposition or support is documented in the provided context, so the public and legislative sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s neutral, enabling tone.
The main point of potential contention is the introduction of chaplains into public schools, which may raise questions about the role of religion in public education, the separation of church and state, and whether chaplain-provided support services are appropriate for students. Supporters would likely emphasize voluntary participation, local control, and additional student support, while critics may be concerned about religious influence in schools or inconsistent implementation across counties. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, the specific positions of legislators or stakeholders are not documented here.