Schools; allowing a school district or charter school to employ or accept as a volunteer one or more chaplains; requiring certain record check. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 590 allows Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to hire or accept as volunteers ordained religious leaders (like pastors or ministers) as chaplains to provide support for students and staff, without requiring state education certification. Schools must obtain a national criminal history check via the OSBI for chaplains before they begin work and cannot employ anyone required to register as a sex offender. The bill explicitly prohibits requiring students or staff to seek services from a chaplain and defines "chaplain" as an ordained religious leader from any faith. It applies directly to all Oklahoma public schools and charter schools, effective July 2025.