Bill > SB5730

This bill updates the requirements for criminal background checks for employees and volunteers who will have unsupervised access to children or persons with developmental disabilities in educational settings. The legislation amends existing law to require fingerprint-based record checks through the Washington State Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation for employees and certain volunteers in schools, educational service districts, and related organizations. The bill expands the scope of who must undergo these checks, including contractors and volunteers in specific scenarios involving small groups of children or individuals with developmental disabilities. Key provisions include allowing conditional employment pending background check completion, permitting waiver of checks if a recent check exists, and establishing procedures for accessing and processing background check information. The bill also specifies that the cost of record checks will include fees for criminal history checks, administrative costs, and fingerprinting. Additionally, the legislation extends these background check requirements to charter schools and state-tribal education compact schools, ensuring consistent screening procedures across different types of educational institutions. The superintendent of public instruction is tasked with adopting rules to implement these background check procedures, including provisions for accessing and limiting access to record check information.

Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5730&Year=2025&Initiative=false