An Oklahoma bill allowing public schools to hire paid or volunteer chaplains to proselytize school-age children has recently passed the Oklahoma House and is headed to the Senate. It must be voted down.

Senate Bill 36 would permit chaplains to “provide support, services, and programs for students” in public schools. Unlike the qualified counselors they might replace, the chaplains would not be required to undergo certification by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. They would only have to pass a background check confirming they are not a sex offender.

Notably, the bill has no safeguards against the fundamental constitutional violations it produces. Public schools are not allowed to promote religion over nonreligion or to prefer one religion over another. Yet, school officials could presumably choose to hire chaplains who share their own beliefs to proselytize children of other religions or no religion during school hours. Religious instruction or counseling has no place in our public schools — and students should not be made to feel disfavored or “othered” for not belonging to the same religion or church as school officials.

If SB 36 were to pass through both chambers, it would invite schools to launch headlong into costly, unwinnable lawsuits. We’re already seeing this play out in Texas, where a similar bill was passed last year, and schools are now voting on chaplain programs. Those who hire chaplains to religiously counsel students during the school day can look forward to lawsuits from students and parents represented by groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

More: Satanist group will participate in Oklahoma public schools chaplaincy program if approved

The National School Chaplain Association is championing chaplains in schools. Its parent organization, Mission Generation Inc., aims to reach “the largest unreached people group inside of the schools around the world” to “influence those in education until the saving grace of Jesus becomes well-known, and students develop a personal relationship with Him.” In Mission Generation’s own words, the organization wants to exploit the “massive lack of school counselors throughout public schools” by filling the void with religious chaplains in order to “win” and “disciple” school-age children.

Oklahoma state Rep. Kevin West, who authored drastically revised language for SB 36, which originally regulated law enforcement recording equipment, has stated that his bill does not “run afoul of our Constitution.” West is wrong. It is clear that the bill was written with one specific religion in mind, and chaplains would undoubtedly push their religious beliefs onto vulnerable children during the school day.

The Oklahoma Senate should outright reject this imprudent and unconstitutional bill. The Sooner State must keep its public school system secular and inclusive of all students.

Ryan D. Jayne is senior policy counsel for the FFRF Action Fund, the lobbying arm of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national nonprofit with approximately 40,000 members across the country, including hundreds of members in Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The countdown is on as Oklahoma’s legislative session comes to a close at the end of the month.

So far, there’s been quite a few bills the governor has signed into law.

In the past few weeks alone, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has approved dozens of bills.

Here are some notable ones that span a wide range of topics.

HB 4156 – Banning Undocumented Immigrants

One law bans the presence of undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma.

Penalties involve hundreds or even thousands of dollars in fines, jail time, and a requirement to leave the state.

The law has proven controversial.

While supporters of the bill, like the state Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R), argue that it protects the border from drugs and illegal marijuana trafficking, groups like the Oklahoma ACLU call it unconstitutional.

SB 2035 – Temporary Car Tags

One bill creates a new system for temporary license plates on vehicles sold in the state.

Under the Mason Treat Act of 2024, rules will be implemented so no one will have to drive without a license plate after purchasing a car.

The bill is named after Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat’s 16-year-old son, who was involved in a near-deadly accident on I-40.

While his car was legally owned and he had all the proper documentation, he didn’t have a tag on his car due to the then-existing law.

SB 1200 – Permanent Daylight Saving Time

Oklahoma is now the 20th state to sign a law that would “lock the clock,” following Stitt’s signing of a new law.

Specifically, Oklahoma wants daylight saving time—the time used from March to November—to be permanent all year long.

However, the federal government would have to trigger all these laws by passing its own law.

HB 1955 – Eliminating the State Grocery Tax

Stitt signed a bill eliminating the state sales tax on groceries.

Starting in August, that’s 4.5% that shoppers will no longer have to pay.

There are some exceptions—including alcohol, dietary supplements, and prepared foods.

However, shoppers will still have to pay the city or county portion of the grocery sales tax.
HB 2102 – Hope Shaffer Act

Just last week, the governor signed the Hope Shaffer Act.

This law prohibits student drivers from operating a motor vehicle when other students are passengers.

Hope Shaffer was a 15-year-old student driver who died in 2020 while sitting in the back of a car driven by a fellow student. When exiting I-240, another vehicle rear-ended their car.

One exception is that a student driver’s parents or guardians may sign a waiver allowing the student driver to ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle that is being operated by another student driver.

SB 1854 – Outlawing Homeless Encampments on State Land

One bill Stitt approved last month outlaws and fines homeless people who refuse to leave state-owned land.

The law also bans tents, shelters, and bedding on state property.

First-time violators would receive a warning and offered help, such as driving them to a nearby shelter or pantry.

However, if the person refuses this help or to leave, they face either a $50 fine, upwards of 15 days in jail, or both.

HB 3571 – Odell’s Law

Those who are well over 21 years old may have tried to buy alcohol but were refused because they forgot to bring their ID.

That reportedly happened to a 90-year-old man named Odell, who was refused beer because he didn’t have his.

Odell’s Law says establishments that sell alcohol no longer have to check the customer’s ID.

However, it reaffirms that places cannot sell alcohol to people younger than 21 years old and that they still have the right to verify someone’s age.

This year’s legislative session ends May 31 at 5pm.

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Dean Blevins and John Holcomb sit down with new Oklahoma State Basketball Coach Steve Lutz.

Sunday, May 5th 2024, 11:04 pm

By:

News On 6,

News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY –

Dean Blevins and John Holcomb sit down with new Oklahoma State Basketball Coach Steve Lutz.