Bill > HB05327

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, expands the information that schools can obtain and disclose during the hiring process for employees who will have direct contact with students, specifically concerning allegations of abuse or neglect, sexual misconduct, or actions that could harm or impair the morals of a minor. It requires school employers to ask applicants about any pending or substantiated investigations into such matters, and to contact previous employers to inquire about any such allegations or disciplinary actions. The bill also allows for the disclosure of information about open investigations, not just substantiated findings, and clarifies that former employers are authorized to share this information, providing them with immunity from liability for doing so, as long as they do not knowingly provide false information. Furthermore, it prohibits schools from entering into agreements that suppress or require nondisclosure of information related to these types of investigations or findings, and requires schools to report any such allegations or findings to the Department of Education. The bill also defines "sexual misconduct" and "abuse or neglect" for the purposes of these provisions.