Schools; allowing a school district board of education to contract with a chaplain to perform school counselor duties. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 486 allows Oklahoma school districts to hire chaplains - defined as ordained religious leaders like pastors or priests - to serve as school counselors, bypassing standard counselor certification requirements. Chaplains hired under this bill would not need to meet state certification rules for counselors or be classified as teachers under Oklahoma law. All chaplains must undergo a national criminal background check as required for other school staff. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.