CRIMINAL CHECKS: SUB BUS DRIVERS S.B. 1252:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]
Senate Bill 1252 (as introduced 4-15-08)
Sponsor: Senator John J. Gleason
Committee: Education
Date Completed: 6-11-08
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to permit the board of a school district, intermediate school district (ISD), public school academy (PSA), or nonpublic school to use the results of a criminal history check and criminal records check obtained by another district, ISD, PSA, or nonpublic school to confirm that a substitute bus driver did not have any criminal history, if the individual agreed in writing to permit the sharing of that information.
Under the Code, the board of a school district, ISD, PSA, or nonpublic school must request from the criminal records division of the Michigan State Police (MSP) a criminal history check and request the MSP to conduct a criminal records check through the FBI for an individual upon an offer of initial employment or when officials learn that the individual is being assigned to work regularly and continuously under contract at any of its schools.
In addition, by July 1, 2008, the board of a school district, ISD, PSA, or nonpublic school must request a criminal history check and a criminal records check for each individual who either is a full-time or part-time employee of the district, ISD, PSA, or nonpublic school or is assigned to work regularly and continuously under contract in any of its schools.
For an applicant for a position as a substitute teacher, or an individual working regularly and continuously under contract in more than one district, if the applicant or individual agrees in writing to allow a district, PSA, or nonpublic school to share the results of the criminal history check or the criminal records check with another district, PSA, or nonpublic school, then, instead of requesting a criminal history check and criminal records check, a district, PSA, or nonpublic school may use a report received by another district, PSA, or nonpublic school or maintained by the Department of Education to confirm that the applicant or individual does not have any criminal history.
Under the bill, those provisions also would apply to an applicant for a position as a substitute bus driver and an individual employed or regularly and continuously working under contract as a substitute bus driver.
MCL 380.1230 et al. Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government.
If a school district's or intermediate school district's policy is to pay for the cost of a criminal background check on substitute bus drivers, then this legislation could provide savings to the hiring entity, if that entity were able to obtain the records from another district. The total cost for each background check (State and Federal analysis) is $49.25.
Fiscal Analyst: Kathryn Summers-Coty
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb1252/0708