A controversial measure that would allow public schools to hire chaplains advanced past the Indiana Senate this week. Democrats raised concerns about the bill’s definition of chaplain and testimony against the bill during committee, but Republicans passed it anyway.

SB 523 says chaplains who work in schools would provide secular support and advice to staff and students. It specifies that they could only provide religious or spiritual guidance to minors with explicit parental permission.

A proposal to put chaplains in public schools could be derailed in the final weeks of the legislative session. However, a Senate committee voted this week to add the bill's language into a different measure, giving it another opportunity to make it into law.

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow public schools to hire chaplains to speak with students and staff members during school hours. Democratic lawmakers expressed concern Wednesday that the role and abilities of chaplains in public schools are not clearly defined in the bill.