| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Education Committee | |
HB 1469
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Concerning record checks for school employees.
Sponsors: Representatives Quall, Dickerson, Green and Ericks.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/16/07
Staff: Andrew Colvin (786-7304).
Background:
School districts, educational service districts (ESDs), the state school for the deaf, and the state
school for the blind must request a criminal record check, including a fingerprint check, before
hiring employees. Record checks, with fingerprint checks, must also be requested for contractors
who will have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children. These record checks are
provided by the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
There is currently an incremental fee schedule for record checks for classified and non-classified
school employees. Under this fee schedule private school employees, contractors, classified
employees and certification applicants are charged one fee, currently $65, while school district
and ESD charged another, currently $55.
The Joint Task Force on Criminal Background Check Processes was created by the passage of
Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 2556 during the 2004 legislative session. The purpose
of the task force is to review and make recommendations regarding how to improve the state's
criminal background check processes. The Task Force was extended and expanded through
subsequent legislation in 2005 and 2006. In January 2007 the Task Force issued its final report,
which included recommendations. These recommendations included requiring record checks for
all school employees, and eliminating incremental fees to allow all school employees and
contractors to pay the same fee.
Summary of Bill:
Portions of the current statue are reorganized so that it is clear that all school district and
educational service district employees must undergo a record and fingerprint check before being
hired. Provisions relating to contractors are moved to a separate subsection, and contractors shall
continue to undergo record and fingerprint checks only if they will have regularly scheduled
unsupervised access to children.
Provisions relating to the state school for the deaf and the state school for the blind are deleted
from the common school statutes and placed in the chapter that specifically covers those schools
The requirement that the State Patrol charge only incremental fees for school district and
educational service district employees is eliminated.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.