This bill mandates comprehensive criminal history record checks for all school employees in Kansas, requiring applicants to undergo fingerprinting and pay a fee, which school districts may cover. It establishes a schedule for periodic checks, with employees hired before July 1, 2025, being re-checked every five years, while those hired after that date will be checked every five years from their start date. The bill also creates a reimbursement fund administered by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to cover the costs of these checks and clarifies the release of criminal history information to state agencies for employment and licensing purposes.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to prohibit the issuance or renewal of licenses for individuals convicted of serious offenses, including sexual crimes and violent felonies, and outlines the revocation process for existing licenses. It mandates fingerprinting and criminal history checks for employees of public innovative districts, with specific timelines for re-checks. The bill ensures confidentiality of criminal history records, exempting them from the Kansas Open Records Act until July 1, 2029, and establishes penalties for unauthorized disclosure. It also requires reporting of convictions to the state board of education and repeals certain statutes to streamline the legal framework governing educational employment.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 22-4714, 72-2165, 72-4223