SB859: School boards; policies relating to volunteer student life counseling and support services.

Legislative Summary

School boards; policies relating to volunteer student life counseling and support services; guidelines and requirements. Permits any school board to adopt a policy permitting certain individuals or groups to provide, on a volunteer basis, student life counseling or support services, as defined by the bill, on school property after regular school hours, in accordance with the requirements in the bill. The bill (i) requires a school board to hold a public hearing to provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposed policy prior to adopting such policy, to ensure that each student is free from pressure from the Commonwealth to engage in or refrain from religious observation on school property, and to ensure that the constitutional principles of freedom of religion and separation of church and state are observed at all times and (ii) requires such policy (a) to include background and criminal records check requirements for individuals volunteering to provide such support services; (b) to require written parental consent before any minor student participates in or receives such support services; (c) to require any approved individual or group to include on materials provided to students and parents information a parent or student may need in order to provide full and informed consent; (d) to be neutral with regard to religious preference, affiliation, or belief, or lack thereof, in the approval of an individual or group to provide such services and in the administration, oversight, or supervision of such services; and (e) to ensure that no such services are provided during regular school hours or in any manner that could cause conflict with instructional time.