From the ECS State Policy Database Background Checks

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary NH Signed into law 07/2013 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 282 Requires criminal records checks of driver education instructors. Updates references relating to suspending or revoking a school license or driver education certificate. Authorizes background checks on candidates for employment or promotion at the department o... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 Postsec. Criminal History Information and On-Campus Housing Applications S.B. 146 Authorizes an institution of higher education to obtain criminal history record information for a student or prospective student applying to reside in on-campus housing. Permits such criminal history record information to be used only to evaluate current or pr... More... VT Signed into law 05/2013 P-12 Multiple Components - Background Checks H.B. 521 One of multiple components. Requires the review of the Child Protection and Vulnerable Abuse Registries each time an educator renews his or her professional license.  It also permits the Secretary of Education or a superintendent to share criminal background r... More... VT Signed into law 05/2013 P-12 Multiple Components - Board Chair and Superintendent Training H.B. 521 One of multiple components. Requires annual joint training for a superintendent and the board chairs within the supervisory union. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2014/Acts/Act056.PDF... More... RI Signed into law 05/2013 P-12 Background Checks for Volunteers H.B. 5229, S.B. 347 Requires that individuals who are current/prospective volunteers of a school department and who may have direct and unmonitored contact with children and/or students on school premises would be required to undergo a state criminal background check. http://webs... More... OK Signed into law 05/2013 P-12 Notification of Employee Charges, Convications S.B. 283 Requires district attorneys to notify the state board when an employee is charged with a felony or violent misdemeanor and when the employee has been convicted or receives a suspended sentence or probationary term for a sex-related crime for which a teaching c... More... OR Signed into law 05/2013 P-12 Drug Tests for School Transportation Providers S.B. 193 Requires every school transportation provider to have either an in-house drug and alcohol testing program that meets the federal requirements or be a member of a consortium that provides testing that meets the federal requirements. Requires each calendar year ... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2013 P-12 Contract for Electronic Fingerprinting H.B. 2441 Allows the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to contract for electronic services related to fingerprint clearance cards (cards). http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/51leg/1r/laws/0174.pdf... More... FL To governor 04/2013 P-12 Background Screening and ID Badges for Noninstructional Contractors on School Grounds H.B. 21 Requires DOE to create uniform, statewide identification badge to be worn by noninstructional contractors signifying that contractor has met specified requirements. Requires school district to issue badge. Requires all districts to recognize the badge and for ... More... OK Signed into law 04/2013 P-12 Criminal History Record Checks S.B. 244 Any person who has been employed as a full-time teacher by a school district in the state and applies for employment as a full-time teacher in another district in the state may not be required to have a national criminal history record check if the teacher pro... More... OR Signed into law 04/2013 P-12 Criminal Background Checks for Early Childhood Education Programs S.B. 104 Makes amendment to include early childhood education programs be being able to request fingerprints and conduct a background check. http://www.leg.state.or.us/13reg/measpdf/sb0100.dir/sb0104.en.pdf ... More... MS Signed into law 04/2013 P-12 Teacher Licensure Hearings and Appeals S.B. 2188 (Section 2) Amends existing law to require that surrender or suspension of a teaching certificate or license by another state will result in immediate denial of licensure until such time that the records predicating the revocation, suspension or surrender in the prior sta... More... OR Signed into law 03/2013 P-12 Reporting of Misconduct By School Employees H.B. 2184 Requires information requested by an education provider from other education providers who are recent employers of an applicant, and the information that education providers must provide upon request, apply to all of an applicant's conduct that is known by the... More... AR Signed into law 03/2013 P-12 School Personnel Background Checks S.B. 457 Revises laws governing background checks for educators, fiscal officers, nonlicensed school district staff, and student teachers. Adds staff from open enrollment charter schools to personnel required to submit information for background check. http://www.arkl... More... MA Signed into law 01/2013 P-12 An Act relative to background checks H.B. 4307 Requires the Board of Education to conduct a fingerprint-based background test before issuing a teacher or child care license. Directs the board to develop procedures for dissemination of criminal background records to districts, townships, and school principa... More... RI Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Criminal Background Checks for Any Mentors of Students H.B. 7077 This act would require that individuals seeking to participate in any mentoring program whereby the individual would be working with a student or students as a mentor or in a mentoring situation would be required to undergo a criminal background check similar ... More... ID Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Unethical Conduct and Employment Decisions H.B. 564 Provides more transparency and open communication between Idaho's public schools and the Professional Standards Commission with regard to investigations and status of review of complaints and charges of unethical conduct which may impact upon the employment de... More... AK Adopted 03/2012 P-12 Career or Technical Education Teaching Certificate 4 AAC 12.370, 372, 385 Revises the requirements for issuance of a limited career or technical education certificate (Type M), to include, a period of validity limited to 1 year (previously 4 years) with options for extension following the passage of a teacher competency exam; requir... More... VA Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Postsec. Teachers of Online Courses and College Partnership Laboratory Schools; Background Checks H.B. 577 Clarifies that teachers of online courses and in college partnership laboratory schools shall, as a condition of employment requiring direct contact with students, provide written consent and the necessary personal information to obtain a search of the registr... More... AL Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Criminal History Background Checks S.B. 60 Makes clarifying changes to the laws governing certain criminal history background checks, and provides for permissive referrals for prosecution or for termination of employment. Clarifies which employees of the department of human resources are required to un... More... SD Signed into law 02/2012 P-12 Disclosure of Public Employee Contracts S.B. 106 Allows for the public inspection or copying of any current or prior contract with any public employee and any related document that specifies the consideration to be paid to the employee. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2012/Bills/SB106ENR.pdf... More... SD Signed into law 02/2012 P-12 District Payment of Criminal Background Checks H.B. 1124 Permits a school district, at the discretion of the school district, to pay the fees charged for any criminal background investigation that is required by law for a prospective employee. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2012/Bills/HB1124ENR.pdf ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Criminal Background Checks H.B. 1240 Provides that upon request of a school, school district, community college district, or private school, any information obtained by a school district pursuant to provisions concerning criminal history records checks and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Dat... More... MI Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Teacher and Administrator Evaluation/Governor's Council on Educator Effectiveness H.B. 4627 From Legislative Staff Summary - Specifies provisions that must apply to personnel decisions concerning teachers when a school district or intermediate school district (ISD) conducts a staffing or program reduction or otherwise makes a personnel determination ... More... NH Became law without governor's signature 07/2011 P-12 Regulations for Nonrenomination or Nonreelection of Teachers S.B. 196 Amends the length of time required for a teacher to be entitled to the rights of notification and hearing for failure to be renominated or reelected. Declares that in cases of nonrenomination or nonreelection because of reduction in force, the reduction in for... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Background Checks at Certain Schools H.B. 153 - Background Checks at Certain Schools Requires that staff at a nonpublic school participating in the Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program or at a college-preparatory boarding school undergo criminal background checks. Permits the chief administrator of a registered private provider parti... More... PA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Multiple Sections - Certification H.B. 1352 Creates a new avenue for mid-career professionals to joing the teaching ranks through the use of "residency" certificates that allow for a streamlined process for professionals with expertise in key fields, such as science and mathematics, to earn a teaching c... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Drivers Education and Background Checks H.B. 2678 Directs the Sunset Advisory Commission to review the education agency's jurisdiction and control over driver education and driving safety schools, and to report to the legislature and governor whether another state agency should have jurisdiction and control o... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Security-Sensitive Positions and Criminal Background Checks H.B. 2937 Amends definition of "security-sensitive position" to include any employee who has access to (1) another person's personal information or identifying information or (2) the financial information of the employer or another person. Adds the Texas Higher Educatio... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Eligibility to Provide Services under Contract with a School S.B. 1042 Specifies that contracting or subcontracting entities may not allow an employee to provide services at a school if the employee has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that would by statute prevent a person from being employed by a district, charter scho... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Training on Sexual Abuse and Child Molestation for Staff at Postsecondary Programs for Minors S.B. 1414 Defines "campus program for minors" as a program operated by or on the campus of a public or private/independent institution of higher education that is not a day camp, and offers recreational, athletic, religious or educational activities for at least 20 camp... More... IL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Seniority Should Not Be Used in Hiring Decisions S.B. 7 - Seniority Should Not Be Used in Hiring Decisions (Does not apply to Chicago Public Schools (CPS), as CPS already requires hiring for new and vacant positions to be based on seniority.) Specifies that selection of a candidate for a new or vacant teaching position must be based on consideration of factors incl... More... ME Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Extends Employment Reference Immunity to School Employees H.P. 1030 Extends employment reference immunity to employees of local school districts. Provides that an employee of a school district t who discloses information about a former employee's job performance or work record to a prospective employer of the former employee i... More... TN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Written Notices of Termination H.B. 731 Eliminates the requirement that written notices of termination for K-12 teachers in public schools contain a statement of prior authorization by a majority vote of the local school board with the name of the teacher recorded. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/10... More... TN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Substitute Teachers S.B. 1674 Authorizes substitute teachers to be employed and paid by a local education agency (LEA) or by a third party provider. Substitute teachers employed by a third party provider shall receive the same unemployment benefits as substitute teachers employed by local ... More... IN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Teacher License Revocation S.B. 363 Amends and adds certain crimes for which the department of education must revoke the licence of a school employee. Requires applicants for certain licensed health professions to submit to a national criminal history background check. Requires the department to... More... CO Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Offenses Disqualifying Employment and Revoking Licenses H.B. 1121 Adds criminal offenses and circumstances that disqualify individuals from employment at districts and schools, based primarily on background checks. The bill also describes offenses and circumstances that prompt suspending or revoking a license, certificate or... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Adds Protected Classes to Law on Discrimination in the Employment of Public School Employees H.B. 202 Conforms the provisions of state law relating to discrimination in the employment of public school employees to other provisions of state law governing discrimination in employment by adding ancestry, age, marital status, and sexual orientation as protected cl... More... NY Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Assistance in Background Checks at Private Schools A.B. 6611 Allows nonpublic schools to contract with BOCES for criminal background checks. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A06611%09%09&Summary=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y... More... DE Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Senate's Teacher Hiring Task Force S.B. 16 Implements the recommendations of the Senate's Teacher Hiring Task Force. Creates an estimated unit count each March, which the Department of Education will conduct using existing resources. The state will guarantee that school districts receive unit funds for... More... ID Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Ethics H.B. 201 Oversight moved from the state board of education to the Professional Standards Commission. School districts - employees - Amends and adds to existing law to revise procedures, processes and fees before the Professional Standards Commission; to provide for an ... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Teacher Layoff and Teacher Tenure S.B. 73 Prohibits districts from using a last-hired-first-fired layoff policy when terminating school district employees. Permits a district to consider the results of an employee's performance evaluation and a school's personnel needs when terminating an employee. Du... More... FL Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Teacher Transfers S.B. 736 - Teacher Transfers Provides that before transferring a teacher, the district superintendent must provide the principal of the receiving school with the teacher's student performance records. Permits a principal to refuse the placement unless the instructor has a performance rati... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Rehiring of Retired Employee S.B. 127 Identifies conditions under which a retiree's retirement allowance may not be cancelled if a retiree is reemployed by a participating employer within a year of the retiree's retirement date. Directs the state retirement office to cancel a retiree's retirement ... More... ID Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Renewable Contracts S.B. 1108 Section 33-515 states that it is the intent of the legislature that after January 31, 2011, no new employment contract between a school district and a certificated employee shall result in the vesting of tenure, continued expectations of employment or property... More... IL Signed into law 12/2010 P-12 Authorizations for Substitute Teachers H.B. 5863 Authorizes a fee, not to exceed the cost of the background check, to be charged to applicants seeking employment as a substitute teacher. Provides that in order to substitute teach in the public schools, a person holding valid certification must register as a ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 Heritage Schools S.B. 1116 Applies specified background check procedures to heritage schools, which serve children between the ages of 5 and 18 who attend a public or private full-time school, and offer foreign language education or tutoring and cultural education relating to a foreign ... More... CA Signed into law 08/2010 P-12 Informing Private Schools of Action Against Credentialholders A.B. 2685 Existing law requires the commission on teacher credentialing to send on a monthly basis to each private school a list of all teachers who have had their state teaching credential revoked or suspended. New provision instead requires the commission to make avai... More... CA Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Background Checks A.B. 346 Amends Section 45125.01. Adds to existing provision allowing a single district or county superintendent to act on behalf of multiple districts to run a background check if a person is an applicant for employment, or is employed on a part-time or substitute bas... More... NH Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Notification of Continuation of Employment H.B. 1411 This bill requires the superintendent to notify, in writing, all qualified education support personnel and non-certified school district employees who have completed their probationary employment period of the intent to continue or not to continue that employm... More... NC Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Career Employees Resigning Without Agreement of Superintendent H.B. 1377 Requires superintendents to report to the state board of education on career employees who resign without the written agreement of the superintendent and have been recommended for dismissal; Provides that the employee will be viewed as having consented to: (1)... More... OK Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 National Criminal History Record Check S.B. 2199 Allows a local board to request in writing to the state board that a national criminal history record check be conducted on any school employee and requires that one be conducted for a prospective employee. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/SB/SB... More... GA Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 List of Registered Sex Offenders H.B. 651 Replaces requirement that the department of education (DOE) annually send each school a list of all registered sex offenders with requirement that DOE provide each school with access to such information. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb651.pdf... More... SC Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Requires Criminal Record and Sex Offender Registry Checks H.B. 4248 Criminal Record Search: Requires individuals hired by a local school board to serve in any capacity in a public school to undergo a criminal record search conducted by the local school district using records maintained by the state law enforcement division; re... More... TN Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Personal Leave Restrictions S.B. 2630 Requires approval by the director of schools or the director's designee for a teacher to take personal leave on days when professional development, in-service training, or parent-teacher conferences are scheduled, according to a school calendar adopted by the ... More... KY Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Interscholastic Athletics H.B. 327 Requires the state board of education or any agency designated by the state board to manage interscholastic athletics to promulgate administrative regulations that permit the hiring of a nonteaching or noncertified person in a coaching position. Requires that ... More... KY Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Background Checks on Existing Teachers in Private Schools H.B. 447 Permits private, parochial and church schools to require a national and state criminal background check on each certified teacher once every five years of employment after the initial check. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/10RS/HB447/bill.doc... More... UT Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Background Checks for School Applicants, Employees and Volunteers H.B. 81 Modifies provisions regarding criminal background checks for employees of, or volunteers at, school districts, charter schools and private schools. Defines "contract employees" (staffing service employees) and includes them among school employees who must unde... More... AL Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Sex Offenders Barred from Driving School Buses H.B. 144 Adds new Section 36-6-49.25. Relates to commercial driver licenses issued by the department of public safety. Effective July 2010, prohibits the issuance or renewal of a commercial driver's license with an endorsement authorizing the license holder to drive a ... More... AL Signed into law 02/2010 P-12 Alabama Educator Code of Ethics S.J.R. 9 Provides that after determining the state board's proposed July 2009 amendment to Rule 290-4-1, creating the "Alabama Educator Code of Ethics," was ambiguous and incapable of being enforced as currently drafted, the legislative joint committee disapproved the ... More... IL Adopted 01/2010 P-12 Certification of Persons with Certificates Previously Denied, Suspended or Revoked 23 IAC 25.485 Requires each applicant for issuance, renewal or registration of an Illinois certificate or for the addition of another credential (e.g., endorsement, approval, designation) to indicate whether he/she has ever had a certificate denied, suspended or revoked in ... More... UT Adopted 01/2010 P-12 Arrests/Convictions of Current or Prospective Licensees R277-516 Revised provision clarifies that the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) must review reports received from the department of public safety (DPS) regarding arrests/convictions of current or prospective licensees (prior language referred only to reviewing data... More... OH Signed into law 12/2009 P-12 Background Checks of School Bus/Van Drivers H.B. 19 - School Bus/Van Drivers Directs the department to amend rule 3301-83-23 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) that took effect August 27, 2009, and that specifies the offenses that disqualify a person for employment as a school bus or school van driver and establishes rehabilitation ... More... UT Adopted 11/2009 P-12 Background Checks During Teacher Licensure Renewal R277-501 Provides a new section that requires all licensed Utah educators when renewing their Utah educator licenses to submit fingerprints for a background check to the department of public safety (DPS). Requires the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) to provide DP... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Certificate to Supervise or Coach Student Activity A.B. 1025 Requires a noncertified candidate, prior to assuming a paid or volunteer position to supervise, direct, or coach a pupil activity program sponsored by, or affiliated with, a school district, to obtain a specified clearance certificate from the Commission on Te... More... UT Adopted 09/2009 P-12 Background Checks and Reporting of Employee Arrests R277-516 Provides procedures for requiring licensed public education employees to report certain types of arrests, including sex-, drug- or alcohol-related arrests, to employers within 48 hours or as soon as possible. Require school districts and charter schools to con... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Charter Schools S.B. 1977 - Charter Schools Requires charter schools to run criminal history records checks and checks of the Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database of applicants for employment. Increases from 14 to 30 days the time period for the state board to approve cha... More... OH Rule Adoption 08/2009 P-12 Employment of Individuals with Criminal Convictions OAC 3301-20-01, -03, -83-23 Rescinds and establishes new rules regarding employment of individuals in positions that require a license and licensure of individuals with certain criminal convictions or other alternative dispositions. --Employment of individuals in positions that require a... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Teacher Conduct, Licensure Suspension and Revocation S.B. 2071 Provides that it is a state attorney's duty to notify the state superintendent of education, the applicable regional superintendent of schools, and the superintendent of the employing school district or the chief school administrator of the employing nonpublic... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1 - Section 3319.291, 3319.391 and 3327.10 Provides that an individual applying for any certificate, license or permit or for the renewal of any certificate, license or permit is not required to undergo a criminal records check if the individual underwent a criminal records check for such purposes less... More... AL Adopted 07/2009 P-12 Alabama Educator Code of Ethics 290-4-1 Adds section creating the Alabama Educator Code of Ethics. Identifies nine areas of standards of conduct, including teacher/student relationships, background checks and confidentiality of the content of student records and standardized tests. Requires educator... More... NY Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Employee's Conditional Status A.B. 8564 Clarifies that a district, charter school, or BOCES employee's conditional status ends 45 days after notification of clearance for employment (pursuant to the employee's background check), or when the prospective employer is notified of a determination by the ... More... LA Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Background Checks and Disclosure Requirements H.B. 741 Addresses the hiring of employees by local public school boards and the disclosure of information of certain instances of sexual misconduct, abuse, and neglect committed by applicants. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=667511... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Preliminary Evaluation of License Eligibility H.B. 963 Adds new Subchapter D, "Preliminary Evaluation of License Eligibility" to Chapter 53, Occupations Code. Authorizes an individual to request a licensing authority to issue a letter evaluating the individual's eligibility for a license, if the individual plans t... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 2730 - Sections 6.11, 9A.03 Requires an entity subcontracting with a district, charter school or shared services agreement to obtain a criminal record information for employees who will have direct contact with students. Bars contracting or subcontracting entities from allowing an employ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Child Abuse and Teacher Certification H.B. 2876 Relates to the authority of an administrative law judge to order the release of information concerning a child abuse and neglect investigation. Provides that on a motion of one of the parties in a case before an administrative law judge relating to the license... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Teacher Ethics S.B. 47 Allows Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to issue public reprimand or to suspend or revoke right to apply for license or registration of student teacher based on certain criteria; removes time limitation on requirement that commission take action rega... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Background Checks S.B. 66 Allows Department of Education to conduct criminal records checks of person who is employed or applying for employment by department or who is providing services or seeking to provide services to department. Chapter 438 http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Fingerprinting S.B. 46 Allows Department of Education to require fingerprints of all new hires of school districts or private schools; requires department to determine whether person knowingly made false statement on the criminal history form; allows school districts and private sch... More... ID Adopted 06/2009 P-12 Uniformity IDAPA 08.02.02 Amends rules relating to uniformity. Includes definitions and addresses the process of obtaining a criminal history check for applicants for certification, school district employees, substitute teachers, student teachers and individuals who have unsupervised c... More... AL Signed into law 05/2009 Postsec. Background Checks for Teacher Preparation Candidates S.B. 270 Requires each applicant for admission to a teacher preparation program at a two-year or four-year institution to complete a criminal history background check. Requires institution publications that describe teacher preparation program requirements or applicati... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Modifies School Background Check Requirements H.B. 523 Modifies school background check requirements relating to disciplinary actions. Deletes a portion of the provision relating to sexual misconduct or attempted sexual misconduct between a teacher and a student. Provides that disciplinary action does not include ... More... OR Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 2062 Requires applicant for position with school district to submit list of current and past employers and to provide written authorization and release of information and documentation from those employers; requires school district to conduct background check on ap... More... IN Signed into law 04/2009 Postsec. Background Checks, Student Discipline H.B. 1462 Exempts a postsecondary educational institution from paying a fee for a limited pre-employment criminal history record; requires school corporations, charter schools and accredited nonpublic schools to conduct an expanded criminal history background check for ... More... WA Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1852 Eliminates the requirement that the Washington State Patrol charge school districts and educational service districts for only the incremental costs associated with checking fingerprints. Chapter 170 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Checks for all Public School Employees and Bus Drivers H.B. 1450 Enhances the safety of children by requiring central registry checks for all public school employees and bus drivers. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Acts/Act1173.pdf... More... KY Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Background Check for Parent Members of School Councils S.B. 148 Requires a criminal records check for parent members of school-based decision making councils. Allows members to serve prior to the report being received, but but requires the member to be removed from the council if the report documents a record of a sex crim... More... VA Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Reasonable Steps to Determine Subjects of a Case of Child Abuse H.B. 1679 Clarifies that a local school board must take reasonable steps to determine whether an applicant, who has resided in another state within the last five years, was the subject of a founded case of child abuse and neglect in the relevant state by contacting such... More... IL Signed into law 08/2008 P-12 Child Abuse Reporting H.B. 4252 Provides that if a school district employee has made a report of suspected child abuse to the department of children and family services involving the conduct of a current or former district employee, and another school district requests information on the job... More... ID Adopted 08/2008 P-12 UNIFORMITY IDAPA 08.02.02 Amends rules relating to uniformity. Includes definitions and addresses the process of obtaining a criminal history check for applicants for certification, school district employees, substitute teachers, student teachers and individuals who have unsupervised o... More... DE Adopted 07/2008 P-12 Criminal Background Checks for Student Teaching 14 DAC 746 Proposes rule requiring student teachers to have criminal background checks prior to placement in a school setting. http://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title14/700/746.pdf... More... DE Adopted 07/2008 P-12 Criminal Background Checks 14 DAC 745 Proposes rule addressing criminal background check for public school related employment. http://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title14/700/745.pdf ... More... LA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1007 Provides that background checks must indicate whether a person has been arrested for a criminal offense. Eliminates provision that record of all criminal convictions provided to a local school board must be limited to convictions during a maximum of 10 years p... More... TN Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Criminal History Checks for Teacher Preparation Program Candidates S.B. 3285 Requires all students wishing to enter approved teacher training programs shall be required to: (1) Supply a fingerprint sample and submit to a criminal history records check to be conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Federal Burea... More... OH Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Employee Misconduct H.B. 428 Requires the state board or state superintendent to automatically revoke or deny an educator license, without an administrative hearing, for anyone convicted of, if found guilty of or has plead guilt to certain offenses. Requires prosecutors to notify the stat... More... TN Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Background Checks S.B. 2807 Clarifies that any person, corporation, or other entity who enters or renews a contract, or contracts with any person or entity who enters or renews a contract, with a school, local board of education, or child care program is responsible for obtaining crimina... More... CO Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Background Checks for School Employees H.B. 1344 Requires the Department of Education to respond to a background query concerning a prospective employee within a certain amount of time; directs a school district to report to the department after a dismissal or resignation as a result of an allegation of unla... More... MN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Background Checks on Prospective Employees S.B. 2597 Requires school boards to seek information from prospective employees and the Board of Teaching about disciplinary actions against the employees; provides a school hiring authority may hire or allow an individual to provide a service to a school pending comple... More... CO Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Background Checks and Investigations for School Employees S.B. 208 Concerns criminal background investigations of school employees; adds to the list of entities able to conduct inquiries concerning prospective employees, the governing board of a charter school or institute charter school; relates to whether a person's educato... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 fingerprinting H.B. 2694 Relates to fingerprinting of contracted school employees; provides that fingerprints submitted shall be used to conduct a State and National criminal records check and the Department of Public Safety may exchange this fingerprint data with the Federal Bureau o... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 2042 Provides that a person who is employed by a school district or charter school or who is an applicant for employment at either, who is arrested for or charged with various crimes including sexual assault of a child or adult or certain violent crimes against chi... More... OK Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Ability to Search for Criminal Conduct S.B. 1601 Finds that licensed child care facilities and other organizations serving children, together with all parents and guardians, should be able to easily search for criminal conduct of potential employees, workers, volunteers, and babysitters, and readily identify... More... MN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Background Checks for Coaches S.B. 2369 Requires all K-12 athletic coaches undergo criminal history background checks. Requires the school hiring authority to notify parents and guardians about the school hiring authority's policy regarding a criminal background check on employees and other individu... More... KS Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 School Safety Violations and Teaching License Issuance/Renewal to Offenders S.B. 470 Repeals definition of "school safety violation." Rewrites provision relating to a student found in possession of a weapon or illegal drug at school or on school property, or who has engaged in an act or behavior at school or on school property that resulted in... More... MD Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Background Checks and Hiring Restrictions H.B. 652 Prohibits a county board of education from knowingly hiring or retaining any individual who has been convicted of specified crimes including violent crimes and child abuse. http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/bills/hb/hb0652t.pdf... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Fingerprints H.B. 2566 Provides that any person who participates in a teacher preparation program that is approved by the State Board of Education or any person who is contracted by this state, by a school district or by a charter school to provide tutoring services shall obtain a f... More... ID Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Background checks S.B. 1515 Makes an additional appropriation to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for criminal history checks; makes an additional appropriation to the State Police for the Support Services Program for criminal history checks. Chapter 373... More... ID Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Background checks H.B. 566 Amends existing law relating to criminal history checks for school district employees or applicants for certificates; requires additional individuals as specified to undergo a criminal history check; clarifies provisions of a criminal history check; provides a... More... VA Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Employee Backgrounds H.B. 1242 Prohibits the employment of an applicant for employment requiring direct contact with students if such applicant is the subject of a founded case of physical or sexual abuse of a child. Additionally, requires the dismissal of a teacher who while employed by a ... More... OH Signed into law 11/2007 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 190 - Multiple Components • Requires school districts, educational service centers, community schools, STEM schools, and chartered nonpublic schools to request criminal records checks for all job applicants and employees, not merely those whose duties entail the care of children. • Re... More... IL Adopted 09/2007 P-12 Testing, Professional Development and Background Checks at Special Education Facilities 23 IAC 401.10 thru .260 (non seq.) Amends policies regarding the assessment of special education students at nonpublic, public out-of-state, public residential or private special education facilities. Transfers authority for the oversight of such assessment from the state board of education to ... More... IL Signed into law 09/2007 P-12 Criminal Sexual Offense by an Employee H.B. 3512 Amends the Privacy of Child Victims of Criminal Sexual Offenses Act. Provides that when a criminal sexual offense is committed or alleged to have been committed by a school district employee or any individual contractually employed by a school district, that c... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Background Checks of Private School Employees S.B. 143 Provides that a nonpublic elementary or secondary school may not obtain Nonpublic School Recognition status unless the school requires all applicants for employment with the school, after July 1, 2007, to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Contract with a Third Party for Non-Instructional Services H.B. 1347 Adds to provisions allowing a local board of education to contract with a third party for non-instructional services currently performed by any employee or bargaining unit member or to lay off such educational support personnel. Extends date of written notice ... More... AL Adopted 08/2007 P-12 Teacher Education AAC 290-3-3 Repeals and replaces rules to require background clearance for admission to the internship and to clarify field experience requirements for graduate programs. Adds an option for teachers of American Sign Language. Prepares individuals for certification in Spor... More... NC Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1659 Authorizes criminal history record checks of employees of and applicants for employment with the department of public instruction. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1659v4.html... More... NY Adopted 07/2007 P-12 Fingerprinting and Criminal History Record Check Title 8 NYCRR Sections 80-1.11, 87.1 through .10 nonseq. Sets forth the requirements and procedures for the fingerprinting and criminal history record check of prospective school employees of nonpublic and private elementary schools. Pages 19-20 of 48: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2007/aug15/pdfs/rules.p... More... PA Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Section on Background Checks H.B. 842, Sec. 111 Part of this large bill requires the state department of prescribe a method for applicants to submit a set of fingerprints to the FBI. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2007&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNb... More... NH Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Background Checks for Volunteers H.B. 37 Requires a school administrative unit, school district or charter school to adopt a policy designating certain categories of volunteers as designated volunteers who may be required to undergo a background investigation and a criminal history records check. All... More... TN Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Automatic Revocation of Teaching Certificate S.B. 1730 Provides that the state board shall automatically revoke the license of a licensed teacher or administrator without the right to a hearing upon receiving verification of the identity of the teacher or administrator together with a certified copy of a criminal ... More... TN Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Background checks fo Teacher Training Candidates H.B. 2076 Provides that all students wishing to enter teacher training programs are required to agree to the release of investigative records to the teacher training program administrator, supply a fingerprint sample and submit to a criminal history records check and si... More... NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Criminal Cases Involving Teachers A.B. 313 Requires the department of education to establish a procedure for the notification, tracking and monitoring of the status of criminal cases involving licensed teachers and other licensed educational personnel. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/AB/AB313_EN.... More... TX Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Criminal Background Checks S.B. 9 Requires a national criminal history background check for all certified public school employees. Current non-certified employees are required to submit to a statewide criminal review, while non-certified employees hired on or after January 1, 2008 will be requ... More... OR Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Disclosure of Suspected Child Abuse S.B. 380 Upon request from a law enforcement agency, the Department of Human Services or the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, a school district is required to provide the records of investigations of suspected child abuse by a school employee or former schoo... More... NJ Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Background Checks for School Volunteers A.B. 515 Permits criminal history record check for unpaid volunteers in schools and requires applicant to be reimbursed for costs of check; permits the reimbursement of paid school personnel for such costs. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A1000/515_R1.PDF... More... IA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Background Checks S.F. 277 (Section 11) Requires that a national background check be conducted of any teacher who holds a license other than an initial license issued by the board of educational examiners before a district enters into an initial contract with such a teacher. Also requires a review o... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Background Checks S.B. 1045 Increases the types of offenses precluding receipt of fingerprint clearance card from the Board of Fingerprinting; includes crimes of sexual conduct involving minors, welfare fraud, identity related crimes, cruelty to animals, prostitution, negligent homicide,... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Charter schools, background checks H.B. 2041 Relates to charter schools, fingerprinting and a civil penalty if a charter school fails to comply with fingerprinting requirements. New provision provides that penalties shall be assessed by reducing the amount of state aid that the charter school would other... More... OR Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Criminal Records Checks H.B. 2047 SECTION 1. ORS 326.603 is amended to read:(1) For the purposes of requesting a state or nationwide criminal records check, the Department of Education may require the fingerprints of: (a) A school district or private school contractor, whether part-time or ful... More... AR Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Ethics S.B. 274 (Teacher Certification) Sections 23 and 24 of the act amend the provisions of Arkansas Code 6-17-410 and 6-17-414 concerning issuance of new teacher licenses, and employment of nonlicensed personnel who have criminal backgrunds. Act adds new criminal offenses to the list of offense... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Background Checks for Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools S.B. 5382 Authorizes Washington State Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation record checks for Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded school employees and applicants for employment using the same processes as used by school districts and Educational Service Distric... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 School Volunteer Background checks S.B. 210 Requires background checks for certain volunteers, contractors and contractor employees. Requires reports of school employee misconduct. Provides that settlement agreement confidentiality provisions do not relieve responsibility for reporting. http://legis.sta... More... LA Adopted 03/2007 P-12 Sexual Misconduct Involving a Student LAC 28:CXV.501 Requires any district, prior to hiring any employee, to request from the applicant's current or previous employer any documentation regarding any sexual misconduct engaged in by the applicant involving a student. Also requires the applicant's current or previo... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Modifies Charter School Provisions H.B. 164 Modifies charter school application and authorization provisions; modifies certain requirements for charter schools, including those relating to charter school assets, school closures, and application, enrollment and withdrawal of a student from a charter scho... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 Postsec. Community College Higher Education Criminal Background Checks H.B. 196 Directs the state Board of Regents to adopt a policy requiring an applicant for a position in a higher education institution that involves significant contact with a minor or a position that is security sensitive to submit to a criminal background check as a c... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Requires School Contractors Verify Employee Sex Offender Status H.B. 1707, S.B. 1346 Provides that as a condition of awarding a contract for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours, the school board must require the contractor to ... More... MI Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 Teacher Background Checks and Certificate Revocation H.B. 6173 Revises the provisions concerning the background checks for and revocation of teaching certificates by school districts, intermediate school districts, public school academies, or nonpublic schools. Public Act 680 http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2... More... MI Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 Background Checks for Child Care Providers H.B. 6174 Requires that criminal history checks and criminal record checks for child care providers be performed only once if the person remains licensed continuously and is required to follow school code procedures if child care service is operated in a school. Public ... More... OH Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 Transfer of Confidential Information, Professional Misconduct H.B. 79-- Secs. 5153.175, 5126.253 Requires that information about professional misconduct or child abuse or neglect committed by a person licensed by the State Board of Education be submitted to the Superintendent of Public Instruction; requires a criminal records check prior to renewing an ed... More... LA Adopted 10/2006 P-12 Standards for Certification LAC 28:CXXXI.Chapters 1-10 (Bulletin 746) The first update in many years. Identifies all certification guidelines for Louisiana school employees and administrators. Pages 1-52 of 133: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/0610/0610RUL.pdf... More... DE Adopted 10/2006 P-12 Criminal Background Checks for School Employees 14 IAC 745 Clarifies rules regarding criminal background check for public school related employment; includes charter schools; requires a criminal background check when employees change school districts and or change between school districts and charter schools; changes ... More... NY Signed into law 08/2006 P-12 Authorizes Fingerprint Background Checks A.B. 11399 Authorizes nonpublic and private elementary and secondary schools to require their prospective employees to submit fingerprints through the commissioner of education for the purpose of criminal background checks.... More... NY Signed into law 08/2006 Postsec. Background Checks for People Attending Flight Training Schools A.B. 2122 Relates to background checks for people attending flight training schools. Establishes when an applicant to an aeronautical facility, flight school or institution of higher learning shall be disqualified from receiving air or flight instruction.... More... WV Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Child Abuse Prevention Programs & Background Checks H.B. 101A Relates to the Child Protection Act with provisions requiring county boards of education, to the extent funds are provided, to establish programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect and child assault to be provided to pupils, parents and school perso... More... DE Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Transfer of Teacher Criminal Records H.B. 509 Ensures that teachers who are convicted of crimes will have the conviction data transmitted to the employing school district.... More... LA Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1082 Requires local boards, prior to hiring any employee, to sign sign a statement that: (1) Provides procedures for the disclosure of information by the applicant's current or previous employer, if such employer is a public school board, on all instances of sexu... More... IA Emergency Rule Adoption 06/2006 P-12 Renewal of Licenses IAC 282-17.1(272), 17.1(1), 17.1(2) Requires the Board to review the sex offender registry information, the central registry for child abuse information, and the dependent adult abuse records for every applicant for renewal of the initial, standard, master educator, professional administrator, a... More... IA Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Background Checks S.B. 2272 - Section 9 Gives board of educational examiners authority to require that a background investigation be conducted by the division of criminal investigation of the department of public safety on all initial applicants for licensure. Mandates that the board also require a... More... VT Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Background Check Release Form H.B. 867 - Section 18 Requires the release form from the Vermont criminal information center to be signed by an applicant for initial certification and to include a statement informing the applicant of: (1)  the right to challenge the accuracy of the record by appealing to the Verm... More... AZ Vetoed 04/2006 P-12 Background Checks for Charter School Employees H.B. 2118 Concerns charter schools; relates to fingerprint checks; provides that a teacher employed by a school district or a charter school shall be issued a permanent fingerprint clearance card on the teacher's second renewal of the card provided that the teacher does... More... ID Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Sex Offenders H.B. 713 Adds to existing law to prohibit access to school children by any person currently registered or required to register under the Idaho Sex Offender Registration Act; provides exceptions; provides a penalty. http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/H0713.html... More... MD Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Background Checks for Nonpublic School Employees S.B. 111 Prohibits nonpublic schools from knowingly employing an individual with specified criminal convictions, including child sexual abuse, if that individual works with or has access to students; requires the State Department of Education to revoke the certificate ... More... MI Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 State Conviction List H.B. 5675 Directs the department of information technology, the department of education and the department of state police to develop and implement an automated program that does a comparison of the department's list of individuals holding a teaching certificate or stat... More... IA Signed into law 03/2006 Postsec. Community College Background Checks on Nursing Students H.B. 2464 Authorizes an approved nursing education program to initiate criminal and child and dependent adult abuse record checks of students and prospective students. Provides that, if a student has a criminal record or a record of founded child or dependent adult abu... More... VA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Condition of Employment H.B. 1109 Provides that school boards must require, as a condition of employment for all public school employees performing services on a contract basis, certification that the employee has not been convicted of a felony or any offense involving the sexual molestation, ... More... IN Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Sex Offenders S.B. 246 Prohibits a sex offender from working or volunteering on school property, at a youth program center, or at a public park. Creates new section defining "offender against children." http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2006/SE/SE0246.1.html... More... KY Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Rank I Rating H.B. 125 Prohibits the Education Professional Standards Board from awarding a a Rank I rating to a teacher who used national board certification to qualify if the certificate is revoked for misconduct or voided for other reasons. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/06RS/HB125... More... MI Signed into law 09/2005 P-12 Criminal records check S.B. 601 In addition to the criminal history check required under section 1230, the board of a school district or intermediate school district or the governing body of a public school academy or nonpublic school shall request the department of state police to conduct a... More... MI (H) PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNOR 9/16/2005 @ 2:54 PM 09/2005 P-12 Criminal background checks H.B. 4402 Criminal background checks on school employees. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/publicact/pdf/2005-PA-0129.pdf... More... MI (H) PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNOR 9/16/2005 @ 2:58 PM 09/2005 P-12 Criminal history checks H.B. 4930 If a person who is employed in any capacity by a school district, intermediate school district, public school academy, or nonpublic school; who has applied for a position with a school district, intermediate school district, public school academy, or nonpublic... More... IL Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Extension of Background Checks H.B. 3451 The Illinois State Police will be required to conduct, in addition to a fingerprint-based background check, a check of the Sex Offender Registry (SOR) under the Sex Offender and Child Murderer Community Notification Law, and a check of all valid and recorded o... More... LA Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Prohibits Hiring Those Convicted of Certain Crimes H.B. 178 Prohibits, except under certain circumstances, city, parish, and other local public school boards and nonpublic schools and school systems from hiring specified persons who have been convicted of or pled nolo contendere to certain crimes as provided in present... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Individual Contracts for Teaching Positions S.B. 1516 (Section 8) Authorizes a local superintendent, with the local board's approval, to issue individual contracts for teaching positions. http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=1516... More... MS Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Contract personnel with contact with students H.B. 1377 Contract personnel with contact with students; revise procedure for criminal background checks.... More... AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Education S.B. 1044 (sections 1-10) Incorporates references to the state's Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Expands the definition of "cause" for purposes of waiving or suspending a teacher's license. Among changes to definition, includes knowingly falsifying or directing another to ... More... AR Signed into law 04/2005 Postsec. Community College Student Criminal History Background Check H.B. 2595 Allows criminal history background checks of certain students and prospective students. Allows electronic dissemination of criminal history information to institutions of higher education for students enrolled in, and prospective students seeking enrollment to... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Charter Schools S.B. 1059 Exempts volunteers and guest speakers engaged in instructional or supervisory work in a charter school from having a valid fingerprint clearance card provided they are accompanied in the classroom by a person with a valid fingerprint clearance card. http://www... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Charter Schools H.B. 2596 Allows charter schools to hire personnel who have not yet received a fingerprint clearance card provided the charter school has followed specified procedures. http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=2596... More... KY Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 School District Criminal Background Checks H.B. 88 Permits a school district superintendent to require a national criminal history background check for a certificated job applicant who has resided in Kentucky twelve months or less; requires any national history background check results to be sent to the hiring... More... IL Signed into law 08/2004 P-12 Postsec. Community College Sex Offender Registration Act S.B. 2607 Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the Sex Offender Registration Act, including amending the definition of school to include public or private, trade or professional institution. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=093... More... IL Signed into law 08/2004 P-12 Criminal Background Investigation H.B. 3977 Amends the School Code, the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code and the Juvenile Court Act with respect to criminal background investigations for applicants for employment with a school district. Provides for reimbursement to school... More... CA Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 School Employees: Sex Offenses A.B. 891 Relates to existing law which sets forth the duties of various private and public entities, including, but not limited to, county boards of education and school districts, with regard to the employment and certification of persons who have been convicted of sp... More... AR Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Criminal Background Check/Employment of Personnel ADE 172 Establishes rules regarding criminal background checks for employment of personnel in school districts, criminal background check for fraudulent acts by fiscal officers of public school districts, and the Board's authority to allow employment eligibility in ce... More... AK Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Teacher Background Check S.B. 179 Relates to criminal history records and background checks; allows persons to teach in the public schools for up to five months without a teaching certificate if the person has applied for a certificate and the application has not been acted upon by the Departm... More... LA Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Prior Criminal Record in Education Employment H.B. 96 Allows the state board to disqualify an applicant for employment or for a license, permit or certificate for an occupation, trade or profession based solely on the applicant's possession of a prior criminal record. Legislative digest: http://www.legis.state.la... More... OK Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Teacher Employment S.B. 922 To be licensed as a teacher, requires both a national and state crimial history records check. The applicant is responsible for costs of records. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2003-04SB/sb922_enr.rtf... More... GA Vetoed 05/2004 P-12 Criminal Checks and Code of Ethics H.B. 198 Requires local school boards to adopt a code of ethics; requires local units of administration to request a criminal check of teachers, principals, and other certificated professional personnel within 10 working days of hire. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis... More... MS Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 School District Substitute Teacher Contractors S.B. 2498 Provides that private firms under contact with school districts to provide substitute teachers during the temporary absence of the regularly employed teacher shall request that the school district conduct a criminal background check on the contract employee. T... More... TN Signed into law 05/2004 Postsec. Sexual Offenses S.B. 2097 Concerns sexual offenses; makes the name and address of any college in this state at which a sexual offender is employed or attends public information and available by October 1, 2004, on the Tennessee Internet home page for convictions occurring on or after J... More... SC Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 04/2004 P-12 Initial Education Certification Applicants S.B. 154 Relates to an applicant for initial education certification being required to undergo a state fingerprint review; revises the time when the applicant shall undergo the review, the manner of the review and the individuals to whom this provision applies.http://w... More... CO Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Nonlicensed Employee Data S.B. 62 Requires a school district to submit the name, date of birth, and social security number from the fingerprint form for each nonlicensed employee of the school district to the Department of Education; directs the department to create and maintain a database; re... More... MI Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Teacher Conviction Suspension H.B. 5476 Requires order summary suspension of teacher's certificate, school administrator's certificate or state board approval of a person who has been convicted of any felony; amends provisions regarding powers and duties of the state board of education. http://www.... More... WV Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Teacher Certificates Revocation H.B. 4552 Relating to grounds for the revocation of teacher certificates. http://129.71.164.29/Bill_Text_HTML/2004_SESSIONS/RS/House/H_BILLS/hb4552%20enr.htm... More... MN Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Civil Actions H.F. 480 Relates to civil actions; provides protection for disclosure of job reference information; requires disclosure of data between school districts and charter schools relating to acts of violence or inappropriate sexual contact with students. http://www.revisor.l... More... WA Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Access to School Employee Discipline Records S.B. 5533 Relates to providing increased access to information on disciplinary actions taken against school employees; relates to providing known information regarding employees' sexual misconduct when those employees attempt to transfer to different school districts.... More... WA Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Complaint Against School Employees Investigation S.B. 6171 Regards investigation of complaints against school employees of sexual misconduct or physical abuse towards a child.... More... AR Signed into law 02/2004 P-12 Criminal Records Check H.B. 1122 Concerns a criminal records check as a condition for initial employment of noncertified personnel in school districts; allows the state board of education to grant a waiver to allow employment eligibility. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/pub... More... AR Signed into law 02/2004 P-12 Fiscal Officer Criminal Background Check H.B. 1140 Requires criminal background checks for fraudulent acts by fiscal officers of public school districts. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/public/HB1140.pdf... More... PA Signed into law 12/2003 P-12 Background Checks and Educational Improvement Tax Credit S.B. 80 Amends the Public School Code. Amends provisions related to background checks of prospective employees, tax levy and limitations, per capita taxes, tuition for certain exceptional children in charter schools for the deaf and blind, Head Start supplemental assi... More... NY Signed into law 09/2003 P-12 Background Checks-Supplemental Education Services S.B. 5546 Requires that a criminal background check be performed on any individual who is employed by a supplemental education services provider.... More... CA Signed into law 09/2003 P-12 Crimes: School Employees A.B. 608 Requires the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol and arresting law enforcement to give notices to specified school officials upon the arrest of a school employee for specified controlled substances or sex offenses, including the Commission on Teacher... More... IL Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Criminal History Records Checks H.B. 564 Amends various Acts relating to criminal history records checks. Provides that applicants for various occupations, including prospective school employees, submit fingerprints to the Department of State Police. Provides for a fee for the records check. http://w... More... MI Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Professional Personnel Register H.B. 4391 (multiple provisions) Requires the department to maintain a professional personnel register and certificate revocation/felony conviction files. http://www.michiganlegislature.org/documents/2003-2004/publicact/pdf/2003-PA-0145.pdf... More... OR Temporary Rule Adoption 08/2003 P-12 Criminal Records Checks of School Employees OAR 581-022-1730, -1732 Amends rules to authorize the Department of Education to conduct on behalf of a school district or a private school criminal records checks of potential school employees, other than teachers, who will have direct, unsupervised contact with children. Provides a... More... WI Vetoed 07/2003 P-12 Unpardoned Felons A.B. 41 Permits an educational agency to refuse to employ or to terminate from employment an unpardoned felon.... More... NC Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Safeguard Children S.B. 993 Enhances the ability of the State Board of Education to safeguard schoolchildren through automatic revocation of teacher certificates upon conviction of certain crimes, and the use of investigative services as needed.... More... NY Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Conditional Employment of Prospective Employees S.B. 5059 Authorizes the division of criminal justice services is authorized to submit the fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal history record check. ... More... MO Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Teacher Job Sharing H.B. 346 (multiple provisions) Requires the state board to adopt rules to facilitate job-sharing positions for classroom teachers, as the term "job-sharing" is defined in this section. Rules must allow a classroom teacher in a job-sharing position to receive paid legal holidays, annual vaca... More... LA Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Immorality Grounds for Dismissal of School Employees H.B. 778 Adds a charge of immorality as a cause for dismissal of a teacher, bus driver, or permanent employee; defines immorality as conviction of a felony offense against the public morals. http://www.legis.state.la.us/bills/byinst.asp?sessionid=03RS&billid=HB778&doct... More... ME Vetoed 06/2003 P-12 Fingerprinting H.P. 667 (LD 890) Restricts fingerprinting of educational personnel to new hires. Specifies that statistics and other information gathered during fingerprinting and background checks of educational personnel are public information, but that dissemination of such information mu... More... CO Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Criminal Conviction and Background Checks H.B. 1114 Requires courts to report felony convictions to the Department of Education when the convicted person is a current or former employee of a school district or charter school in Colorado or the person holds an educator license or authorization. The reporting req... More... MO Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 S.B. 296 (multiple provisions) Specifies that all valid teaching certificates issued prior to September 1988 are exempt from the professional development requirement that follows. Narrows types of teacher licences available to an initial professional certificate and a career continuous pro... More... ME Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Substitute Teacher Fingerprinting H.P. 749 (LD 1032) Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, requires a person employed as a substitute teacher and a person who is a regular school employee and who also needs fingerprinting and a criminal history record check to be issued a temporary approval card by the Depar... More... OK Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Criminal History Checks H.B. 1469 Relates to criminal history checks for licensing of bailbondsman, security guards and private investigator licensure, school district teacher employment, members of the Horse Racing Commission, members of the Alcoholic Law Enforcement Commission, precious meta... More... WA Signed into law 05/2003 Postsec. Registration of Sex Offenders H.B. 1712 Revises provisions relating to registration of sex offenders and kidnapping offenders; requires such offenders who gain employment or student status at an institution of higher education to register with the sheriff of the county of residence or location of th... More... IN Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Background checks, criminal acts, contract and license termination, liability, H.B. 1620 Revises policies a school may adopt concerning criminal history checks; requires a prosecuting attorney to notify the state superintendent of public instruction and the employer when a licensed school employee is convicted of certain offenses; revises grounds ... More... IA Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Requirement to Report School Employee Nonrenewal or Termination Due to Alleged or Actual Misconduct H.B. 549 (omnibus bill) Requires any local board, superintendent or head of any nonpublic school to report to the state educational examiners board every instance of revocation or nonrenewal of a school employee's contract due to alleged or actual misconduct, as well as the resignati... More... IA Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Temporary Contract to Fill Military Leave Vacancy H.B. 549 (omnibus bill) Allows a temporary contract to be issued to a teacher to fill a vacancy created by a leave of absence occasioned by a teacher's taking of military leave. Such temporary contract must automatically terminate when the former incumbent returns from military leav... More... IA Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Grounds for Disqualification from or Revocation of Teaching License H.B. 549 (omnibus bill) Requires the state board of educational examiners to disqualify an individual from obtaining a teaching license or revoke the teaching license of any individual who pleas guilty or is found guilty of "sexual exploitation by a school employee," regardless of th... More... TN Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Persons Working With Children H.B. 1314 Clarifies that criminal history records check for persons working with children will include check conducted by federal bureau of investigation along with Tennessee bureau of investigation; clarifies that federal bureau of investigation will be reimbursed for ... More... MS Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Private School Use of Criminal Background Check System H.B. 742 Adds that any nonpublic school accredited or approved by the state board may use the procedures established in statute for criminal background checks of public school employees, and must pay the same fees for these checks as public school employees. http://bil... More... NM Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Reporting Convictions H.B. 212 (Omnibus Bill) Amends Section 22-10A-5 by adding a requirement for superintendents to report to the department any known conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude of a licensed school employee that results in any type of action against the employee. Th... More... SD Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Criminal Background Investigations S.B. 157 Clarifies and revises certain provisions concerning criminal background investigations of school district employees and student teachers.... More... OK Emergency Rule Adoption 12/2002 P-12 Fingerprint Checks OAC 210:209-9-91 Establishes emergency rules regarding teacher education and certification. Changes rules to require all first-time Oklahoma teachers to have on file with the State Board of Education a current Oklahoma criminal history and a national fingerprint-based criminal... More... NJ Signed into law 12/2002 P-12 Bus Drivers S.B. 1709 Provides for notification of charges pending for a disqualifying crime or offense against a public or nonpublic school employee or school bus driver who has previously undergone a criminal history background check.... More... MA Signed into law 11/2002 P-12 Background Checks for School Employees, Volunteers and Contractors S.B. 2436 Defines enticement. Requires any organization offering activities or programs to children age 18 or younger and that uses volunteers to obtain all available criminal offender record information from the criminal history systems board before accepting the indi... More... MT Rule Adoption 11/2002 P-12 ARM New Rule I thru III, XXVIII, XXIX, XXX, XXXI; 10.55.602 thru .710 (non-seq); 10.57.101 thru .801 (non-seq.); Repeal 10.57.103 thru .406 (non-seq); New Rule I/Criminal History Background Check Establishes rules regarding criminal history background check, substitute teachers, teacher license classification, definition of 'immoral conduct', investigation, and reporting of the surrender, denial, revocation or suspension of a license. Addresses accred... More... UT Adopted 09/2002 P-12 Denial of License Due to Background Check Offenses R686-104 Provides procedures and an appeals process for an individual seeking a Utah educator license for the first time. Provides for submission of information, including a background check, evaluation of materials. UTAH REG 25222 (SN)... More... AZ Signed into law 08/2002 P-12 Background Checks and Fingerprinting of Charter School Staff S.B. 1008E Requires that upon the conviction of a person of an offense in this title or of any felony, if the person is teaching in a charter school, a copy of the judgment and sentence, and of the opinion of the court or magistrate, if any opinion is filed, shall be sen... More... TN Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Bus Driver Certificates H.B. 2106 Prohibits issuance of certificate to drive school bus in this state if applicant has been convicted of driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, or aggravated vehicular assault within 5 years of application for certificate.... More... RI To governor 06/2002 P-12 Criminal Records Checks S.B. 2468 This act would permit an applicant for employment with a private school or public school department to apply for a national and state criminal records check with the state police or their local police department. Such applicants are now required to apply to th... More... RI To governor 06/2002 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 7143 Requires applicants for employment with a school to apply to local state police and state police departments as well as the Bureau of Criminal Investigations of the Attorney General. This act would take effect upon passage.... More... CO Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Criminal Background Checks H.B. 1459 Expands inquiry process at nonpublic schools from applicants to include employees of such schools. If nonpublic school employee is subject of inquiry, he/she must submit a complete set of his/her fingerprints to the governing board of the school. Requires depa... More... MN Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Required Disclosure of Employee Impropriety; Employer Immunity H.B. 3092 Provides employer immunity for reference checks for residential service and programs for children, juveniles, and persons with developmental disabilities; includes personal care provider organizations, day training and habilitation services, and board and lodg... More... AL Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Background Checks S.B. 21 Amends the State Child Protection Act; subjects all employees with unsupervised access to children in an education setting to criminal history background information checks; provides for check procedure; allows checks to be performed on current employees, cont... More... MS Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 School Attendance Officers H.B. 643 Requires fingerprinting and background checks for newly hired school attendance officers.... More... MS Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 School Employees Criminal Background Check S.B. 2223 School employees criminal history record check requirement; include school attendance officers and delete repealer.... More... KY Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Voluntary Background Checks at Nonpublic Schools H.B. 595 Permits nonpublic schools that have voluntarily been certified by the Board of Education to conduct national and state criminal background checks on new certified hires. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/record/02rs/HB595/bill.doc... More... KY Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 School Bus Driver's Licenses and Training Schools H.B. 190 Relates to commercial driver licenses and commercial driver training schools; requires all persons applying for a license to operate a CDL driver training school, and all persons applying to be a CDL driver training instructor to undergo a criminal history bac... More... MN Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 School Bus Driver Background Checks S.B. 2949 Modifies procedures for school bus driver background checks.... More... IA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Licensee Investigations and Proceedings H.B. 2482 Expands the board of educational examiners' authority with regard to licensee disciplinary investigations and proceedings.... More... KY Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 School Bus Driver's License Requirements H.B. 189 Requires all new applicants and persons initially renewing a commercial drivers license (CDL) to undergo a criminal background check; allows a person who is not a resident to be issued a CDL instruction permit and CDL if the person is enrolled in a truck drivi... More... GA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 National Board Teacher Licensure and Professional Standard Commission Investigations S.B. 368 Modifies language relating to teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Modifies language relating to duties, membership, compensation and preliminary investigations of violations by the Professional Standards Commission. Pe... More... IN Vetoed 03/2002 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1202 Requires a prosecuting attorney to notify the state superintendent of public instruction and the employer when a licensed school employee is convicted of certain offenses; makes changes in the grounds for which teachers' licenses may be revoked and contracts m... More... ME Public Law No. 03/2002 P-12 Education Leave Advisory Board H.B. 1616 Terminates the Educational Leave Advisory Board; declares the educational leave program for state employees to be in public interest.... More... RI Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature 07/2001 P-12 Background Checks for Private School Teachers H.B. 5288 States any person seeking employment with a private school who has not previously been employed by a private school or public school department in Rhode Island in the last 12 months shall undergo a national and state criminal background check; exempts those hi... More... ME Vetoed 06/2001 P-12 Repeals Requirement for Background Checks S.B. 322 (LD 1090) Repeals the law requiring background checks and fingerprinting of school employees; corrects cross-references to the repealed provisions.... More... LA Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Requirement for Background Checks S.B. 117 Requires in a criminal history review of a school employee the reporting of all felonies and all offenses against a minor of which a person has been convicted or pled nolo contendere.... More... OR Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Sports Coaches H.B. 2781 Relates to youth sports coaches and supervisors; requires youth sports providers to create and adopt a list of crimes that would preclude individuals from coaching or supervising youth sports activities; provides for criminal background checks for such individ... More... KY Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Criminal Records Checks for Volunteers H.B. 204 Relates to criminal records checks; provides that any criminal records checks for school volunteers are valid for five years unless school board determines an additional check is needed earlier based on hearsay or actual evidence; provides that students in an ... More... WV Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 FBI Backgrount Checks H.B. 3049 Applicants for initial license must be fingerprinted by state police and then have prints forwarded to the FBI for national criminal history record check. Applicant pays the cost. ... More... OK Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Criminal Records H.B. 1253 Relates to requirement of filing of criminal history record for teacher licensure; requires certain notification about school employees.... More... ND Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Designees May Do Fingerprint Checks H.B. 1225 Allows fingerprint checks to be done by a law enforcement officer or a properly trained designee of a law enforcement officer.... More... VA Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Exchange of Background Check Information H.B. 2588 Authorizes local school boards to exchange information obtained from a criminal history records check of an applicant, if the applicant has requested and given permission in writing that another school board to which he has applied for employment may be inform... More... SD Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Illegal substances S.B. 63 Revises the definition of illegal substances for purposes of revoking or refusing to issue a certificate to a teacher or administrator; permits revocation or refusal to issue a certificate for certain offenses involving moral turpitude, including certain traff... More... VA Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1996 Provides that criminal histories obtained by school boards for those who are offered or accept permanent, temporary, full or part time school board employment, address all felony and misdemeanor convictions and equal offenses in other states; provides that rep... More... SD Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Background Check Exemptions S.B. 91 Exempts certain school district employees from the requirement for certain background checks.... More... SD Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Background Check Transfers S.B. 117, S.B. 91 Any school district employee who is employed by more than one school district is only required to obtain one criminal background investigation, if the background investigation was conducted no more than five years before the person is first employed by the add... More... NY Signed into law 07/2000 P-12 Fingerprinting, Criminal History Checks S.B. 1031 Relates to the protection of pupils in educational settings from abuse and maltreatment; requires the fingerprinting and criminal history records checks of prospective employees of school districts, charter schools and boards of cooperative educational service... More... NY Signed into law 07/2000 P-12 Payment for Background Checks S.B. 8239 Relates to fingerprinting and criminal history records checks as they apply to persons applying for a position in a school district and the payment of fees for said searches.... More... FL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Background Screening of School Health Employees S.B. 2034 Relates to health care; relates to kidney dialysis patients; relates to the Children's Medical Services Program; relates to the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program; relates to Biomedical Research Program within the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund; develops an im... More... IL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Background Checks on School Board Members H.B. 3840 Public Act No. 91-728; Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code; makes changes concerning the ineligibility of persons to be elected to a local school council, the criminal background investigation of local school council members, a local ... More... NH Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Criminal Histories H.B. 304 Modifies the crimes that prevent a person from being hired by a school administrative units, school district and charter school; modifies the procedures for criminal history records checks by school administrative units, school districts and charter schools.... More... HI Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Teacher/Staff Background Checks H.B. 2098 Requires the Department of Health to conduct criminal history records checks for employees, applicants, providers, and subcontractors in positions which necessitate direct contact with clients when providing non-witnessed direct mental health services; require... More... IA Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Investigative Information Confidential S.B. 292 Provides for the designation of investigative information possessed by the board of educational examiners as privileged and confidential; relates to licensee discipline.... More... IL Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Safety, School Report Cards, Background Checks, Summer School H.B. 4587 Public Act No. 91-4587; Amends the School Code to provide that the School Safety and Educational Improvement Block Grant Program shall provide funding for school report cards and criminal background investigations; adds the Summer Bridges program to the progra... More... ME Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Requires State to Pay for Background Checks S.B. 951 Public Law No. 791., (LD 2490)Requires the State to pay the costs of the fingerprinting and background checks of current and prospective elementary and secondary school employees.... More... IA Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Background Checks S.B. 228 Authorizes school districts and nonpublic schools to perform certain criminal and abuse record checks.... More... MS Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Background Checks S.B. 2658 Requires fingerprinting and criminal records background checks for new public school licensed and nonlicensed employment applicants and for current employees on phased-in basis; prohibits employment or continued employment of persons determined through such ch... More... AL Signed into law 05/2000 Postsec. Background Checks for University Health Care Employees H.B. 485 Relates to campus police departments of colleges or universities in this State which offers medical, nursing, or health care education, or which operate a hospital facility, including the University of Alabama in Birmingham and the University of South Alabama,... More... AL Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Postsec. Criminal Background Checks H.B. 132 Relates to the Child Protection Act of 1999; relates to criminal background checks; removes from the definition of a Local Employing Board all 2-year schools under the auspices of the State Board of Education and all 4-year institutions from the State.... More... ME Vetoed 04/2000 P-12 Modifies Background Checks S.B. 987 (LD 2540)Proposes to effect current law that requires teachers and other school employees in public schools or approved private schools to undergo fingerprinting and state and national criminal history record checks.... More... ID Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Background Checks/Private School Employees H.B. 542 Provides for criminal history checks for private or parochial school employees or contractors upon request.... More... ID Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 522 Requires that charter schools shall comply with the requirement that all school employees undergo a criminal history check.... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Fingerprinting H.B. 2220 Relates to school employees; states a person applying for a certificate shall have a valid class one or class two fingerprint clearance card.... More... KY Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Background Checks for Volunteers H.B. 136 Requires state criminal records checks of adult volunteers in public schools who have contact with students on a regularly scheduled or continuing basis; permits school boards to pay costs of criminal records checks.... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Fingerprinting S.B. 1116 Relates to criminal screening of school employees; provides that a person applying for the renewal of a certificate shall have a valid class one or class two fingerprint clearance card; allows the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue waivers of state ... More... ID Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Background Checks for Private Kindergartens S.B. 1477 Requires that any person who owns, operates or is employed by a private school for educational purposes for children four through six years of age or a private kindergarten shall comply with the criminal history checks as required for basic day care licenses.... More... UT Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Teacher Licensing/ H.B. 303 Relates to disclosure of information relating to prior school employment; provides that an applicant for a teacher's license provide the licensing authority with an affidavit listing the higher education institutions attended by the applicant, and whether the ... More... VA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Speed of Response H.B. 865 Requires the Department of Social Services to respond to requests by local school board in cases where there is no match within the central registry of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect regarding applicants for employment within 10 business days of... More... VA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1238 Directs all school boards to require, as a condition of employment, fingerprinting for applicants who are offered or who accept school board employment, whether on a temporary, permanent, or part- or full-time basis; requires the submission of the fingerprints... More... SD Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1200 Requires criminal background checks of school employees; prohibits employment of certain persons in schools.... More... GA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Omnibus Bill - Background Checks H.B. 1187 Background checks are required of all school personnel and are required of all certificated personnel upon any application for certificate renewal. ... More... VA Signed into law 02/2000 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1097 Requires applicants who are offered or who accept permanent or temporary, part-time or full-time employment with the school board to submit to fingerprinting and a criminal history record check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange of the Federal Burea... More...