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.