Bill > A342

Introduced Session

This bill requires certain public school employees, employees of contracted service providers, school bus drivers, and candidates for those positions to undergo a child abuse record information check. Under the bill, candidates for employment with a school district and employees of a contracted service provider, including school bus drivers, who are required by current law to undergo a criminal history record check also will be required to undergo a child abuse record information check. The bill provides for the check to be conducted by the Department of Children and Families, which maintains the State's child abuse registry pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1971, c.437 (C.9:6-8.11). The bill requires the candidate for employment or service to provide prior written consent for the check and to pay for the cost of the check. In the case of a school bus driver, the check will be required prior to initial employment and upon application for renewal of a school bus driver's license. If the department determines upon a search of its child abuse registry that an allegation of child abuse or neglect has been substantiated against the candidate, the bill provides that the candidate will be permanently disqualified from employment or service with a school district. In the case of a school bus driver, the individual also will be ineligible to operate a school bus. In addition, the bill requires child abuse record information checks for employees of a school district or a contracted service provider who are already employed on the effective date of the bill in positions that require a criminal history record check as a condition of employment. The bill requires the department to establish a schedule for conducting the checks of current employees and to complete the checks within five years of the bill's effective date. If the department determines upon a search of its child abuse registry that an allegation of child abuse or neglect has been substantiated against a current employee, the bill provides that the employee will not be eligible for continued employment, and will be permanently disqualified from employment or service with a school district. The bill also requires youth camp employees and candidates for employment with a youth camp to undergo a child abuse record information check conducted by the Department of Children and Families. The youth camp employee or candidate must provide prior written consent for the check and pay for the cost of the check. If the department determines upon a search of its child abuse registry that an allegation of child abuse or neglect has been substantiated against the employee or candidate, the individual will be permanently disqualified from employment with a youth camp. The bill requires the Commissioner of Children and Families to adopt regulations necessary to implement the bill, and provides for the immediate filing of those regulations with the Office of Administrative Law, effective for a period not to exceed one year. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Committee Categories

Brian Bergen (R)*,  Aura Dunn (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/11/2022)

Official Document