SALT LAKE CITY -
Utah lawmakers are considering a bill that would require school employees and unsupervised volunteers to undergo criminal background checks before beginning work at a public school. House Bill 81, which is sponsored by Rep. Sheryl Allen, stems from an incident in the Ogden City School District. A convicted sex offender was hired as a volunteer parking lot worker at Bonneville Elementary School. Soon after, a legislative audit revealed 17 of 1,200 school employees had criminal convictions, including sexual assault, indecent exposure and aggravated assault. Of the 17, three were teachers.
H.B. 81 would also require schools to run periodic background checks every fiive years for teachers and every six years for volunteers. School districts will be notified immediately if an employee or volunteer is arrested. Allen says the proposed legislation is long overdue.
"We've had some problems. We're trying to correct that [and] keep everybody safe," Allen said.
The Senate Education Committee passed H.B. 81, and the bill now moves on to the Senate floor for a vote. If passed, teachers, school employees and volunteers will each be held responsible for the $65 criminal background check fee.
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H.B. 81 would also require schools to run periodic background checks every fiive years for teachers and every six years for volunteers. School districts will be notified immediately if an employee or volunteer is arrested. Allen says the proposed legislation is long overdue.
"We've had some problems. We're trying to correct that [and] keep everybody safe," Allen said.
The Senate Education Committee passed H.B. 81, and the bill now moves on to the Senate floor for a vote. If passed, teachers, school employees and volunteers will each be held responsible for the $65 criminal background check fee.
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FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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