Bill No.: HB0108                     Drafter:  TH

LSO No.:   12LSO-0274                 Effective Date:  March 13, 2012

Enrolled Act No.:    HEA0042

Chapter No.:         CH0071

Prime Sponsor:       Representative McKim

Catch Title:         Professional teaching standards board-teacher certification.

Subject:             Criminal history record checks for teacher certification and school district employees with access to children.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Clarifies access to criminal history record information for applicants for certification by the Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) and for school district employees with access to minors;

· Specifies required submission of fingerprinting by certification applicants and applicable district employees for background information purposes;

· Expands grounds for teacher certification revocation, denial and nonrenewal by PTSB to include misrepresentation;

· Prohibits certification issuance by PTSB until receipt of background check information and the applicant has provided release of background information to PTSB and if applicable, to employing district;

· Requires PTSB to release specified background information to school districts upon request by the local board;

· Grants authority to school district boards to request fingerprints of initial hires with access to minors, at the cost of the district.