Highly Controversial Legislation Signed. Is DeSantis Ignoring First Amendment? Share Your Thoughts…
Satanists Banned…
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed highly controversial legislation, permitting Chaplains into public schools to “counsel” students. While seemingly a violation of the First Amendment, DeSantis says it will hold up in court as no one, he says, is being forced to do anything, and parents have to approve religious counseling. The mere presence of Clergy on campus, however, is already being questioned by the ACLU. It’s also being questioned by Satanists who say they want to provide Chaplains, but are being banned.
Here’s the official announcement provided to BocaNewsNow.com from the Governor’s office. What do you think? Share your thoughts, below.
[OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:] Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation to enable schools to host chaplain programs and patriotic organizations on campus.
“Faith leaders and civic organizations are important additional resources for students who may be facing challenges or need to build community and camaraderie,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I’m pleased to be able to expand the variety of options that students have at their disposal in school and we have no doubt that these options will enhance the experiences of our students.”
“I’d like to thank Governor DeSantis for signing HB 1317,” said Representative Berny Jacques. “This is an important piece of legislation that allows patriotic organizations in our schools, organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters — a mentoring organization that I’ve been involved with for over 10 years, starting back when I was a young prosecutor. Big Brothers Big Sisters works well with many of our schools, but this legislation will help us double down on our efforts so kids will turn out to be productive members of society, and not as a file on a prosecutor’s desk.”
“This legislation provides yet another option to serve all students in Florida,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “Volunteer chaplains offer faith-based support and are uniquely suited to serve students and families throughout our state and I’m pleased that we are providing another valuable resource for our schools.”
“I want to applaud Governor DeSantis for signing House Bill 931,” said Representative Stan McClain. “At a time when much of the country is facing a mental health crisis, having volunteer chaplains for K-12 schools is a common sense solution. We are selling our kids short if we only focus on meeting their intellectual needs but fail to make provision for their spiritual and emotional needs. Once again, Florida and Governor DeSantis lead the nation in a policy change that will make public education better for everyone.”
Governor DeSantis signed HB 931 and HB 1317. HB 931 establishes a statewide school chaplain program, which:
Authorizes school districts and charter schools to allow volunteer chaplains to be on school campuses and provide additional counseling support to students. Chaplains will be assigned by the district school board or charter school governing board. A student may only receive support offered by school chaplains with written parental consent. HB 1317 authorizes districts to allow civic and patriotic organizations to visit schools to encourage student participation and involvement. These organizations include: • Big Brothers Big Sisters of America • The Boy Scouts of America • The Boys & Girls Clubs of America • The Civil Air Patrol • Future Farmers of America • The Girl Scouts of the United States of America • Little League Baseball • The Marine Corps League • The Navy Seal Cadet Corps
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Share your thoughts, below.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, so what do you expect when the opposite side has cheered on suspending or expelling students over praying or bringing their personal bibles to school? When I went to school, there was a JAM (Jesus and Me) Trust club and nobody had an issue with it.
Against religion in a public school; utilize a church, synagogue, mosque after school.
It seems to me that the Republican party with their anti abortion legislation & now DeSantis’s move to allow religious counseling inn the schools wishes to turn America into a theocracy–like Iran ! Shame Shame !!!
I am
Opposed to any clergyman working in a public school. This goes against separation of church and state. If you need to pray go to your church/ temple of choice
like the former president this gov is a man who does not think the constitution matters. both are flouting the law of the land. there is no words to describe how arrogant bastards does not think the law matters. well it does. voting blue will show these moronic people we still support our laws
Yes… voting blue for the sort of Looney Toons who, or sympathize with those who, want to abolish the Electoral College so the Northeast and West Coast choose every President, pack the Supreme Court, and shred the Constitution because it was written by “white straight male slave owners.” Not to mention, picking and choosing what laws to follow and which suspected lawbreakers to prosecute, and attempting to cancel religious institutions, organizations, etc. and threatening to tax, claiming the Constitution doesn’t apply to them whenever they make money.
As usual , people are making this into a political issue. We can allow schools to discuss changing genders just with teachers and exclude the parent but not allow confused and perhaps suicidal children free clergy services WITH PARENTAL CONSENT ? This is not necessarily for prayer , but for counseling UPON REQUEST. It is not mandatory and the parents are involved. I guess the same people who object to this are ok with all of the misguided teachers and administrators in schools promoting anti-American and anti-Israel hate speech because the constitution allows free speech.
God Bless The Governor!
God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path.
Here we go again! More taxpayer money to sue the governor because he signed another law that divides the citizens of Florida.
Controversial legislation? Controversial to whom? This article is another example of advocacy journalism rather than news.
We are not a christian nation. Our government was founded on the separation of church and state. There are 5 main religions and hundreds of sects and non-religious groups. Is FL going to provide hundreds of these people to be available to “counsel” children? We had school psychologist when I attended school for counseling. Just another scheme to push religion onto children. You want religion in public school, then churches must pay taxes just like everyone else.
No, the State is not providing counseling of ANY faith. The law simply states somebody can receive counseling without being harassed and berated by far-left mobs. Our government wasn’t even necessarily “founded” on separation of church and state when the First Amendment didn’t come about until three years after the Constitution was ratified. Why do officials take oaths of office on the Bible? Sure you can argue the concept of secularism goes back further to Enlightenment in Western Europe, but that’s another story. With your logic, there is no such thing as a “Christian nation” because every major country in the world where the majority of the population is Christian is secular. Well, except The Vatican… I suppose it’s all meaningless, showing your true colors saying churches should be taxed.
For someone that holds and has practiced law, our Gov doesn’t seem to know a whole lot about our constitution and history of first amendment challenges. For example, if the law specifically states the word ‘Chaplain’, the law can be contested as ‘Chaplain’ typically refers to the clergy of the Christian faith. The law should include the terms for other religions, faiths, and non-faiths. The law should include and allow Rabbi, Imam, Lama, Kannushi, Swami, and other titles for religious, non-faith, and secular ‘leaders’ offering counseling.
Hopefully this law will be contested and overturned. Unfortunately, nothing will happen to Gov or legislators that created and sponsored this bill, as our current laws don’t offer any accountability for lawmakers that knowingly create, sponsor, and sign bills into law that they should know are, or suspect are, unconstitutional.
It’s not the Governor’s job to determine the constitutionality of a piece of legislation he signs. Frankly, neither is it the President’s job… although ninety percent of current one has signed are, and 100 percent of his Executive Orders are unconstitutional and would be struck down by SCOTUS when the challenge makes it.