S-1156.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5213

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Kohl‑Welles and Costa)

Read first time 02/03/1999.

Requiring record checks for employees of approved private schools who have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children.

    AN ACT Relating to record checks of private school educational employees; adding a new section to chapter 28A.195 RCW; 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 private schools in the state of Washington.  In order to ensure this goal, private schools approved under this chapter shall require that all employees who have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children who apply for employment on or after July 1, 1999, undergo a record check through the Washington state patrol criminal identification system under RCW 43.43.830 through 43.43.838, 10.97.030, 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 fingerprint card.  Employee applicants 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 applicant.  Once an applicant has a record check as required under this section, additional record checks shall not be required of the applicant unless required by other provisions of law.

    (2) The approved private school or the applicant shall pay the costs associated with the record check required in this section.

    (3) When necessary, applicants may be employed on a conditional basis pending completion of the investigation.  If the applicant has had a record check within the previous two years, the approved private school or contractor may waive the requirement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  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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