Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at Tohopekaliga High School in Osceola County on Thursday, April 18, 2024.–
Under the measure, school districts and charter schools could choose to craft policies allowing chaplains to provide “support, services, and programs” as long as certain requirements are met. The ACLU last month posted a statement on its website saying the organization has “vigorously opposed” efforts to bring chaplains into schools. The group maintains that such efforts are an unconstitutional violation of the separation of church and state.
DeSantis on Thursday said he expects the measure to be challenged in court. The governor, who said the ACLU “is basically saying it’s okay to discriminate against religious organizations,” pointed to parts of the bill that make chaplain services optional.