Bill > H377

This bill proposes that the board of elementary and secondary education, working with the department of criminal justice information services, will regularly review how national fingerprint-based criminal background checks are being used for school employees to find ways to lessen the burden and costs for school districts and employees. Specifically, the board will consider making these national fingerprint-based criminal background checks a requirement for teachers and other certified employees, not only when they first get certified but also when they need to renew their certification, and this information would be available to school districts looking to hire them. The board is also required to report its findings and any proposed legislation to the joint chairs of the committee on education within a year of the bill's passage and then every other year thereafter, focusing on reducing the regulatory burden and costs associated with these background checks.