NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee amendment to House Bill 418 clarifies that background checks, at a minimum, are required for all volunteers who have unsupervised access to students on more than two days per week during any thirty-day calendar period and that such background checks may be conducted at the expense of the department of public safety.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 418 adds volunteers who have unsupervised access to students to the list of those who work in school settings who must have fingerprint criminal history background checks.

Significant Issues

The requires that the cost of background checks on volunteers with unsupervised access to students be conducted at the expense of local districts.

The bill defines "volunteer" to exclude parents, grandparents, or legal guardians of students at the public school where the volunteer works.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 418 does not contain an appropriation. According to SDE, the bill could have a significant fiscal impact on local school districts under the provision that districts absorb the cost of conducting the background checks. The background checks costs $31.00 each for processing through the Department of Public Safety and the FBI.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

There is no administrative impact to SDE, local school districts would have to administer the program.

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