H-1703.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2159
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State of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By Representatives Quall, Talcott, Schindler, O'Brien, Esser, Gombosky, Ruderman, Boldt, Haigh, D. Sommers, Dunn, Kagi, Stensen, Kenney, Miloscia, Santos, Tokuda, Lambert, Edwards and Barlean
Read first time 02/17/1999. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to record checks of private school educational employees; adding new sections to chapter 28A.195 RCW; making an appropriation; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.195 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The legislature finds additional safeguards are necessary to ensure safety of school children attending approved private schools in the state of Washington. In order to ensure this goal, by June 30, 1999, private schools approved under this chapter shall require that all employees who have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children and were hired before July 1, 1999, undergo a record check through the Washington state patrol criminal identification system under RCW 43.43.830 through 43.43.838 and 10.97.050, and through the federal bureau of investigation. The record check shall include a fingerprint check using a complete Washington state criminal identification card. Certified employees who have completed a record check in accordance with RCW 28A.410.010 are not required to undergo the record check required by this section. The superintendent of public instruction shall provide a copy of the record report to the employee. Once an employee has a record check as required under this section, additional record checks shall not be required of the employee unless required by other provisions of law.
(2) Private schools under this chapter and their employees shall not be required by the state patrol or superintendent of public instruction to pay for the record check required in this section.
(3) The record checks required in this section shall be in process no later than September 30, 1999.
(4) This section expires March 31, 2001.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of section 1 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.195 RCW to read as follows:
(1) By June 30, 1999, private schools approved under this chapter shall require that all employees who have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children and were hired after June 30, 1999, undergo a record check through the Washington state patrol criminal identification system under RCW 43.43.830 through 43.43.838 and 10.97.050, and through the federal bureau of investigation. The record check shall include a fingerprint check using a complete Washington state criminal identification card. Certified employees who have completed a record check in accordance with RCW 28A.410.010 are not required to undergo the record check required by this section.
(2) The approved private school or the employee or applicant shall pay the costs associated with the record check required in this section.
(3) The processing of record checks required in this section for employees hired after July 1, 1999, shall begin by September 30, 1999.
(4) When necessary, applicants may be employed on a conditional basis pending completion of the investigation. If the applicant has had this record check within the prior two years, the approved private school or contractor may waive the requirement.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
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