SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6619
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. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Early Learning & K-12 Education, February 4, 2010
Title: An act relating to record check information.
Brief Description: Including approved private schools in the superintendent of public instruction's record check information rules.
Sponsors: Senators McAuliffe and King.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/01/10, 2/04/10 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Kauffman, Vice Chair, Early Learning; Oemig, Vice Chair, K-12; King, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Gordon, Hobbs, McDermott, Roach and Tom.
Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)
Background: Applicants for educator certification and applicants for employment with approved private schools; and public school districts, educational service districts, the State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss, the State School for the Blind, and their contractors must get a record check through the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the employee will have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children. The Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs funded schools may use the process to perform record checks for their employees and applicants for employment.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is authorized to make rules regarding access to and review of information obtained based on the record checks. SPI must provide access to the record check information to the public school districts, the Washington state center for childhood deafness and hearing loss, the state school for the blind, the educational service districts, and the federal bureau of Indian affairs-funded schools. SPI is not currently authorized to provide the information to approved private schools.
Summary of Bill: The SPI is authorized to adopt rules regarding record checks and access to record check information for private schools.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 26, 2010.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: We support this bill. We are extremely happy that SPI is also supporting this bill as well. It is about the safety of our children.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Judy Jennings, Washington Federation of Independent Schools.