S-0649.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5213

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators McAuliffe, Kohl‑Welles and Costa

Read first time 01/15/1999.  Referred to Committee on Education.

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, beginning July 1,1999, 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, and persons 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.  Certificated employees and 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 employee or applicant.  Once an employee or a applicant has a record check as required under this section, additional record checks shall not be required of the employee or applicant unless required by other provisions of law.

    (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 before 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 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.

                            --- END ---