The bill aims to enhance student safety by mandating that school districts adopt a student protection policy that requires background checks for any individual who may have unsupervised contact with students. Specifically, the policy must ensure that individuals complete a fingerprint-based national criminal history background check before being allowed unsupervised access to students during school hours or school-sponsored activities. Additionally, if a school district fails to comply with this policy, it must submit a correction plan to the superintendent of public instruction. The bill also amends existing laws to require background checks for educator licensure.

Key amendments include the addition of a requirement for school districts to adopt a student protection policy (Section 20-3-323) and the stipulation that individuals must complete a fingerprint-based national criminal history background check as part of the educator licensure qualifications (Section 20-4-104). Furthermore, the bill specifies that school districts must submit a plan to correct any noncompliance with the student protection policy (Section 20-3-324). The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_1(1): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_1(2): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_1(3): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_1(4): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_1(5): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_1(6): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_1: 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(1): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(10): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(11): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(2): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(3): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(4): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(5): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(6): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(7): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(8): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X(9): 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104
HB0745_X: 20-3-323, 20-3-324, 20-4-104