HB 531

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
    Regular Session  H. B. No. 531
       2025-2026
  Representatives Newman, Ritter
   Cosponsors: Representatives Claggett, Dean, Salvo, King, Miller, M., Click,
  Pizzulli, Creech, Plummer, Gross, Richardson
  To amend sections 3314.03 and 3326.11 and to enact  1
  section 3313.475 of the Revised Code to enact  2
  the School Chaplain Act to permit public schools  3
  to engage volunteer chaplains to provide support  4
  services.  5
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
      Section 1. That sections 3314.03 and 3326.11 be amended  6
and section 3313.475 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as  7
follows:  8
      Sec. 3313.475. (A) As used in this section, "chaplain"  9
means a religious professional who has received endorsement or  10
certification by a recognized ecclesiastical endorsing agency  11
and who provides spiritual programming, support, and counseling  12
outside of a traditional church setting in such places as  13
hospitals, the armed services, prisons, law enforcement  14
agencies, and schools.  15
      (B) A school district, community school established  16
pursuant to Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, or STEM school  17
established pursuant to Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code may  18
accept as a volunteer a chaplain to provide support, services,  19
H. B. No. 531  Page 2
As Introduced
and programs for students. A chaplain volunteering in accordance  20
with this section shall not be required to apply for a license  21
or certification with the state board of education.  22
       (C)(1) As a condition of volunteering under this section,  23
each volunteer described in division (A) of this section shall  24
be subject to a criminal records check for a person hired by a  25
school district as prescribed by section 3319.391 of the Revised  26
Code. In the manner prescribed by the department of education  27
and workforce, the individual shall submit the criminal records  28
check to the department and shall register with the department  29
during the period in which the individual volunteers at the  30
school district or school.  31
       (2) The department shall not accept the application of any  32
individual under this division if the department learns that the  33
individual has pleaded guilty to, has been found guilty by a  34
jury or court of, or has been convicted of any of the offenses  35
listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.  36
       (3) Not later than December 1, 2026, each board of  37
trustees of a school district or governing authority of a school  38
shall vote at a public meeting of the board or authority on  39
whether to adopt a policy authorizing the district or school to  40
accept as a volunteer a chaplain under this section, beginning  41
in the 2026-2027 school year.  42
       (D) Chaplain services may be offered in addition to, but  43
not in lieu of, school counselor services.  44
       (E) A student may participate in supports, programs, or  45
services provided by a chaplain during school hours only if the  46
student's parent or legal guardian has provided written  47
permission for the student to do so.  48
H. B. No. 531  Page 3
As Introduced
        (F) Each school district or school may establish  49
requirements and procedures as necessary to implement this  50
section.  51
        Sec. 3314.03. A copy of every contract entered into under  52
this section shall be filed with the director of education and  53
workforce. The department of education and workforce shall make  54
available on its web site a copy of every approved, executed  55
contract filed with the director under this section.  56
        (A) Each contract entered into between a sponsor and the  57
governing authority of a community school shall specify the  58
following:  59
        (1) That the school shall be established as either of the  60
following:  61
        (a) A nonprofit corporation established under Chapter  62
1702. of the Revised Code, if established prior to April 8,  63
2003;  64
        (b) A public benefit corporation established under Chapter  65
1702. of the Revised Code, if established after April 8, 2003.  66
        (2) The education program of the school, including the  67
school's mission and educational philosophy, the characteristics  68
of the students the school is expected to attract, the ages and  69
grades of students, and the focus of the curriculum;  70
        (3) The academic goals to be achieved and the method of  71
measurement that will be used to determine progress toward those  72
goals, which shall include the statewide achievement  73
assessments;  74
        (4) Performance standards, including but not limited to  75
all applicable report card measures set forth in section 3302.03  76
H. B. No. 531  Page 4
As Introduced
or 3314.017 of the Revised Code, by which the success of the  77
school will be evaluated by the sponsor;  78
        (5) The admission standards of section 3314.06 of the  79
Revised Code and, if applicable, section 3314.061 of the Revised  80
Code;  81
        (6)(a) Dismissal procedures;  82
        (b) A requirement that the governing authority adopt an  83
attendance policy that includes a procedure for automatically  84
withdrawing a student from the school if the student without a  85
legitimate excuse fails to participate in seventy-two  86
consecutive hours of the learning opportunities offered to the  87
student.  88
        (7) The ways by which the school will achieve racial and  89
ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves;  90
        (8) Requirements for financial audits by the auditor of  91
state. The contract shall require financial records of the  92
school to be maintained in the same manner as are financial  93
records of school districts, pursuant to rules of the auditor of  94
state. Audits shall be conducted in accordance with section  95
117.10 of the Revised Code.  96
        (9) An addendum to the contract outlining the facilities  97
to be used that contains at least the following information:  98
        (a) A detailed description of each facility used for  99
instructional purposes;  100
        (b) The annual costs associated with leasing each facility  101
that are paid by or on behalf of the school;  102
        (c) The annual mortgage principal and interest payments  103
that are paid by the school;  104
H. B. No. 531  Page 5
As Introduced
       (d) The name of the lender or landlord, identified as  105
such, and the lender's or landlord's relationship to the  106
operator, if any.  107
       (10) Qualifications of employees, including both of the  108
following:  109
       (a) A requirement that the school's classroom teachers be  110
licensed in accordance with sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the  111
Revised Code, except that a community school may engage  112
noncertificated persons to teach up to twelve hours or forty  113
hours per week pursuant to section 3319.301 of the Revised Code;  114
       (b) A prohibition against the school employing an  115
individual described in section 3314.104 of the Revised Code in  116
any position.  117
       (11) That the school will comply with the following  118
requirements:  119
       (a) The school will provide learning opportunities to a  120
minimum of twenty-five students for a minimum of nine hundred  121
twenty hours per school year.  122
       (b) The governing authority will purchase liability  123
insurance, or otherwise provide for the potential liability of  124
the school.  125
       (c) The school will be nonsectarian in its programs,  126
admission policies, employment practices, and all other  127
operations, and will not be operated by a sectarian school or  128
religious institution.  129
       (d) The school will comply with sections 9.90, 9.91,  130
109.65, 121.22, 149.43, 2151.357, 2151.421, 2313.19, 3301.0710,  131
3301.0711, 3301.0712, 3301.0715, 3301.0729, 3301.24, 3301.948,  132
H. B. No. 531  Page 6
As Introduced
3302.037, 3313.472, 3313.473, 3313.474, 3313.475, 3313.50,  133
3313.539, 3313.5310, 3313.5318, 3313.5319, 3313.608, 3313.609,  134
3313.6012, 3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3313.6020, 3313.6024,  135
3313.6026, 3313.6028, 3313.6029, 3313.6031, 3313.643, 3313.648,  136
3313.6411, 3313.6413, 3313.66, 3313.661, 3313.662, 3313.666,  137
3313.667, 3313.668, 3313.669, 3313.6610, 3313.67, 3313.671,  138
3313.672, 3313.673, 3313.69, 3313.71, 3313.716, 3313.718,  139
3313.719, 3313.7112, 3313.7117, 3313.721, 3313.753, 3313.80,  140
3313.814, 3313.816, 3313.817, 3313.818, 3313.819, 3313.86,  141
3313.89, 3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.077, 3319.078, 3319.0812,  142
3319.238, 3319.318, 3319.321, 3319.324, 3319.39, 3319.391,  143
3319.393, 3319.41, 3319.46, 3319.90, 3319.614, 3320.01, 3320.02,  144
3320.03, 3320.04, 3321.01, 3321.041, 3321.13, 3321.14, 3321.141,  145
3321.17, 3321.18, 3321.19, 3322.20, 3322.24, 3323.251, 3327.10,  146
4111.17, 4113.52, 5502.262, 5502.703, and 5705.391 and Chapters  147
117., 1347., 2744., 3365., 3742., 4112., 4123., 4141., and 4167.  148
of the Revised Code as if it were a school district and will  149
comply with section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code in the manner  150
specified in section 3314.17 of the Revised Code.  151
       (e) The school shall comply with Chapter 102. and section  152
2921.42 of the Revised Code.  153
       (f) The school will comply with sections 3313.61,  154
3313.611, 3313.614, 3313.617, 3313.618, and 3313.6114 of the  155
Revised Code, except that for students who enter ninth grade for  156
the first time before July 1, 2010, the requirement in sections  157
3313.61 and 3313.611 of the Revised Code that a person must  158
successfully complete the curriculum in any high school prior to  159
receiving a high school diploma may be met by completing the  160
curriculum adopted by the governing authority of the community  161
school rather than the curriculum specified in Title XXXIII of  162
the Revised Code or any rules of the department. Beginning with  163
H. B. No. 531  Page 7
As Introduced
students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after  164
July 1, 2010, the requirement in sections 3313.61 and 3313.611  165
of the Revised Code that a person must successfully complete the  166
curriculum of a high school prior to receiving a high school  167
diploma shall be met by completing the requirements prescribed  168
in section 3313.6027 and division (C) of section 3313.603 of the  169
Revised Code, unless the person qualifies under division (D) or  170
(F) of that section. Each school shall comply with the plan for  171
awarding high school credit based on demonstration of subject  172
area competency, and beginning with the 2017-2018 school year,  173
with the updated plan that permits students enrolled in seventh  174
and eighth grade to meet curriculum requirements based on  175
subject area competency adopted by the department under  176
divisions (J)(1) and (2) of section 3313.603 of the Revised  177
Code. Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, the school shall  178
comply with the framework for granting units of high school  179
credit to students who demonstrate subject area competency  180
through work-based learning experiences, internships, or  181
cooperative education developed by the department under division  182
(J)(3) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.  183
       (g) The school governing authority will submit within four  184
months after the end of each school year a report of its  185
activities and progress in meeting the goals and standards of  186
divisions (A)(3) and (4) of this section and its financial  187
status to the sponsor and the parents of all students enrolled  188
in the school.  189
       (h) The school, unless it is an internet- or computer-  190
based community school, will comply with section 3313.801 of the  191
Revised Code as if it were a school district.  192
       (i) If the school is the recipient of moneys from a grant  193
H. B. No. 531  Page 8
As Introduced
awarded under the federal race to the top program, Division (A),  194
Title XIV, Sections 14005 and 14006 of the "American Recovery  195
and Reinvestment Act of 2009," Pub. L. No. 111-5, 123 Stat. 115,  196
the school will pay teachers based upon performance in  197
accordance with section 3317.141 and will comply with section  198
3319.111 of the Revised Code as if it were a school district.  199
       (j) If the school operates a preschool program that is  200
licensed by the department under sections 3301.52 to 3301.59 of  201
the Revised Code, the school shall comply with sections 3301.50  202
to 3301.59 of the Revised Code and the minimum standards for  203
preschool programs prescribed in rules adopted by the department  204
of children and youth under section 3301.53 of the Revised Code.  205
       (k) The school will comply with sections 3313.6021 and  206
3313.6023 of the Revised Code as if it were a school district  207
unless it is either of the following:  208
       (i) An internet- or computer-based community school;  209
       (ii) A community school in which a majority of the  210
enrolled students are children with disabilities as described in  211
division (B)(2) of section 3314.35 of the Revised Code.  212
       (l) The school will comply with section 3321.191 of the  213
Revised Code, unless it is an internet- or computer-based  214
community school that is subject to section 3314.261 of the  215
Revised Code.  216
       (m) The school will comply with section 3313.7118 of the  217
Revised Code if it serves elementary school students.  218
       (12) Arrangements for providing health and other benefits  219
to employees;  220
       (13) The length of the contract, which shall begin at the  221
H. B. No. 531  Page 9
As Introduced
beginning of an academic year. No contract shall exceed five  222
years unless such contract has been renewed pursuant to division  223
(D) of this section.  224
       (14) The governing authority of the school, which shall be  225
responsible for carrying out the provisions of the contract;  226
       (15) A financial plan detailing an estimated school budget  227
for each year of the period of the contract and specifying the  228
total estimated per pupil expenditure amount for each such year.  229
       (16) Requirements and procedures regarding the disposition  230
of employees of the school in the event the contract is  231
terminated or not renewed pursuant to section 3314.07 of the  232
Revised Code;  233
       (17) Whether the school is to be created by converting all  234
or part of an existing public school or educational service  235
center building or is to be a new start-up school, and if it is  236
a converted public school or service center building, both of  237
the following:  238
       (a) Specification of any duties or responsibilities of an  239
employer that the board of education or service center governing  240
board that operated the school or building before conversion is  241
delegating to the governing authority of the community school  242
with respect to all or any specified group of employees provided  243
the delegation is not prohibited by a collective bargaining  244
agreement applicable to such employees;  245
       (b) Alternative arrangements for current public school  246
students who choose not to attend the converted school and for  247
teachers who choose not to teach in the school or building after  248
conversion.  249
       (18) Provisions establishing procedures for resolving  250
H. B. No. 531  Page 10
As Introduced
disputes or differences of opinion between the sponsor and the  251
governing authority of the community school;  252
       (19) A provision requiring the governing authority to  253
adopt a policy regarding the admission of students who reside  254
outside the district in which the school is located. That policy  255
shall comply with the admissions procedures specified in  256
sections 3314.06 and 3314.061 of the Revised Code and, at the  257
sole discretion of the authority, shall do one of the following:  258
       (a) Prohibit the enrollment of students who reside outside  259
the district in which the school is located;  260
       (b) Permit the enrollment of students who reside in  261
districts adjacent to the district in which the school is  262
located;  263
       (c) Permit the enrollment of students who reside in any  264
other district in the state.  265
       (20) A provision recognizing the authority of the  266
department to take over the sponsorship of the school in  267
accordance with the provisions of division (C) of section  268
3314.015 of the Revised Code;  269
       (21) A provision recognizing the sponsor's authority to  270
assume the operation of a school under the conditions specified  271
in division (B) of section 3314.073 of the Revised Code;  272
       (22) A provision recognizing both of the following:  273
       (a) The authority of public health and safety officials to  274
inspect the facilities of the school and to order the facilities  275
closed if those officials find that the facilities are not in  276
compliance with health and safety laws and regulations;  277
       (b) The authority of the department as the community  278
H. B. No. 531  Page 11
As Introduced
school oversight body to suspend the operation of the school  279
under section 3314.072 of the Revised Code if the department has  280
evidence of conditions or violations of law at the school that  281
pose an imminent danger to the health and safety of the school's  282
students and employees and the sponsor refuses to take such  283
action.  284
       (23) A description of the learning opportunities that will  285
be offered to students including both classroom-based and non-  286
classroom-based learning opportunities that is in compliance  287
with criteria for student participation established by the  288
department under division (H)(2) of section 3314.08 of the  289
Revised Code;  290
       (24) The school will comply with sections 3302.04 and  291
3302.041 of the Revised Code, except that any action required to  292
be taken by a school district pursuant to those sections shall  293
be taken by the sponsor of the school.  294
       (25) Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, the school  295
will open for operation not later than the thirtieth day of  296
September each school year, unless the mission of the school as  297
specified under division (A)(2) of this section is solely to  298
serve dropouts. In its initial year of operation, if the school  299
fails to open by the thirtieth day of September, or within one  300
year after the adoption of the contract pursuant to division (D)  301
of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code if the mission of the  302
school is solely to serve dropouts, the contract shall be void.  303
       (26) Whether the school's governing authority is planning  304
to seek designation for the school as a STEM school equivalent  305
under section 3326.032 of the Revised Code;  306
       (27) That the school's attendance and participation  307
H. B. No. 531  Page 12
As Introduced
policies will be available for public inspection;  308
       (28) That the school's attendance and participation  309
records shall be made available to the department, auditor of  310
state, and school's sponsor to the extent permitted under and in  311
accordance with the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act  312
of 1974," 88 Stat. 571, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, as amended, and any  313
regulations promulgated under that act, and section 3319.321 of  314
the Revised Code;  315
       (29) If a school operates using the blended learning  316
model, as defined in section 3301.079 of the Revised Code, all  317
of the following information:  318
       (a) An indication of what blended learning model or models  319
will be used;  320
       (b) A description of how student instructional needs will  321
be determined and documented;  322
       (c) The method to be used for determining competency,  323
granting credit, and promoting students to a higher grade level;  324
       (d) The school's attendance requirements, including how  325
the school will document participation in learning  326
opportunities;  327
       (e) A statement describing how student progress will be  328
monitored;  329
       (f) A statement describing how private student data will  330
be protected;  331
       (g) A description of the professional development  332
activities that will be offered to teachers.  333
       (30) A provision requiring that all moneys the school's  334
H. B. No. 531  Page 13
As Introduced
operator loans to the school, including facilities loans or cash  335
flow assistance, must be accounted for, documented, and bear  336
interest at a fair market rate;  337
       (31) A provision requiring that, if the governing  338
authority contracts with an attorney, accountant, or entity  339
specializing in audits, the attorney, accountant, or entity  340
shall be independent from the operator with which the school has  341
contracted.  342
       (32) A provision requiring the governing authority to  343
adopt an enrollment and attendance policy that requires a  344
student's parent to notify the community school in which the  345
student is enrolled when there is a change in the location of  346
the parent's or student's primary residence.  347
       (33) A provision requiring the governing authority to  348
adopt a student residence and address verification policy for  349
students enrolling in or attending the school.  350
       (34) A provision establishing the process by which the  351
governing authority of the school will be selected in the  352
future.  353
       (35) A description of the management and administration of  354
the school.  355
       (36) A provision requiring the governing authority to  356
adopt policies and procedures to establish internal financial  357
controls for the school.  358
       (B) A contract entered into under section 3314.02 of the  359
Revised Code between a sponsor and the governing authority of a  360
community school may provide for the community school governing  361
authority to make payments to the sponsor, which is hereby  362
authorized to receive such payments as set forth in the contract  363
H. B. No. 531  Page 14
As Introduced
between the governing authority and the sponsor. The total  364
amount of such payments for monitoring, oversight, and technical  365
assistance of the school shall not exceed three per cent of the  366
total amount of payments for operating expenses that the school  367
receives from the state.  368
       (C) The contract shall specify the duties of the sponsor  369
which shall be in accordance with the written agreement entered  370
into with the department under division (B) of section 3314.015  371
of the Revised Code and shall include the following:  372
       (1) Monitor the community school's compliance with all  373
laws applicable to the school and with the terms of the  374
contract;  375
       (2) Monitor and evaluate the academic and fiscal  376
performance and the organization and operation of the community  377
school on at least an annual basis;  378
       (3) Provide technical assistance to the community school  379
in complying with laws applicable to the school and terms of the  380
contract;  381
       (4) Take steps to intervene in the school's operation to  382
correct problems in the school's overall performance, declare  383
the school to be on probationary status pursuant to section  384
3314.073 of the Revised Code, suspend the operation of the  385
school pursuant to section 3314.072 of the Revised Code, or  386
terminate the contract of the school pursuant to section 3314.07  387
of the Revised Code as determined necessary by the sponsor;  388
       (5) Have in place a plan of action to be undertaken in the  389
event the community school experiences financial difficulties or  390
closes prior to the end of a school year.  391
       (D) Upon the expiration of a contract entered into under  392
H. B. No. 531  Page 15
As Introduced
this section, the sponsor of a community school may, with the  393
approval of the governing authority of the school, renew that  394
contract for a period of time determined by the sponsor, but not  395
ending earlier than the end of any school year, if the sponsor  396
finds that the school's compliance with applicable laws and  397
terms of the contract and the school's progress in meeting the  398
academic goals prescribed in the contract have been  399
satisfactory. Any contract that is renewed under this division  400
remains subject to the provisions of sections 3314.07, 3314.072,  401
and 3314.073 of the Revised Code.  402
       (E) If a community school fails to open for operation  403
within one year after the contract entered into under this  404
section is adopted pursuant to division (D) of section 3314.02  405
of the Revised Code or permanently closes prior to the  406
expiration of the contract, the contract shall be void and the  407
school shall not enter into a contract with any other sponsor. A  408
school shall not be considered permanently closed because the  409
operations of the school have been suspended pursuant to section  410
3314.072 of the Revised Code.  411
       Sec. 3326.11. Each science, technology, engineering, and  412
mathematics school established under this chapter and its  413
governing body shall comply with sections 9.90, 9.91, 109.65,  414
121.22, 149.43, 2151.357, 2151.421, 2313.19, 2921.42, 2921.43,  415
3301.0714, 3301.0715, 3301.0729, 3301.24, 3301.948, 3302.037,  416
3313.14, 3313.15, 3313.16, 3313.18, 3313.201, 3313.26, 3313.472,  417
3313.473, 3313.474, 3313.475, 3313.48, 3313.481, 3313.482,  418
3313.50, 3313.539, 3313.5310, 3313.5318, 3313.5319, 3313.608,  419
3313.6012, 3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3313.6020, 3313.6021,  420
3313.6023, 3313.6024, 3313.6026, 3313.6028, 3313.6029,  421
3313.6031, 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.614, 3313.615, 3313.617,  422
3313.618, 3313.6114, 3313.643, 3313.648, 3313.6411, 3313.6413,  423
H. B. No. 531  Page 16
As Introduced
3313.66, 3313.661, 3313.662, 3313.666, 3313.667, 3313.668,  424
3313.669, 3313.6610, 3313.67, 3313.671, 3313.672, 3313.673,  425
3313.69, 3313.71, 3313.716, 3313.717, 3313.718, 3313.719,  426
3313.7112, 3313.7117, 3313.7118, 3313.721, 3313.753, 3313.80,  427
3313.801, 3313.814, 3313.816, 3313.817, 3313.818, 3313.819,  428
3313.86, 3313.89, 3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.077, 3319.078,  429
3319.0812, 3319.21, 3319.238, 3319.318, 3319.32, 3319.321,  430
3319.324, 3319.35, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.393, 3319.41,  431
3319.45, 3319.46, 3319.90, 3319.614, 3320.01, 3320.02, 3320.03,  432
3320.04, 3321.01, 3321.041, 3321.05, 3321.13, 3321.14, 3321.141,  433
3321.17, 3321.18, 3321.19, 3321.191, 3322.20, 3322.24, 3323.251,  434
3327.10, 4111.17, 4113.52, 5502.262, 5502.703, and 5705.391 and  435
Chapters 102., 117., 1347., 2744., 3307., 3309., 3365., 3742.,  436
4112., 4123., 4141., and 4167. of the Revised Code as if it were  437
a school district.  438
       Section 2. That existing sections 3314.03 and 3326.11 of  439
the Revised Code are hereby repealed.  440
       Section 3. This act shall be known as the School Chaplain  441
Act.  442