County Boards of Education - Volunteer Aides - School Chaplain

HB 24 authorizes Maryland county school boards to hire chaplains as volunteer aides to provide student support services in schools, without replacing teaching staff. The bill requires county superintendents to create guidelines for volunteer aide use and clarifies that chaplains serving as volunteers are considered limited agents of the county board for liability and workers' compensation purposes. It directly affects public school systems across Maryland counties and takes effect July 1, 2026. The law specifically prohibits using volunteer aides to supplant educational personnel, focusing on supplemental support rather than staff replacement.