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 - to perform school counselor duties, bypassing standard counselor certification requirements. It exempts chaplains from Oklahoma’s counselor certification rules (Section 6-122.3 or 6-187 of Title 70) and clarifies they are not considered "teachers." Chaplains hired under this bill must undergo a national criminal history check as required by law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is designated as an emergency measure.