This bill amends the procedures for conducting criminal history records checks for school bus drivers and expands the scope to include school transportation vehicle drivers, school bus monitors, designated volunteers, and contracted service providers. The new legal language specifies that these individuals must submit a criminal history records release form and a complete set of fingerprints to the Department of Education, which will conduct the checks through state and federal databases. The bill also establishes that the criminal history record clearance will be valid for five years and mandates the department to implement a secure system for these checks. Additionally, it outlines that individuals with certain criminal convictions, particularly those related to drug offenses or child exploitation, will be ineligible for employment or contracts in public educational settings.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for maintaining the confidentiality of the criminal history records and requires the Department of Education to destroy this information within 60 days of receipt. It also allows the department to charge individuals for the actual costs of the criminal history records check. The bill stipulates that any individual whose educator credential has been revoked in New Hampshire or any other state cannot be employed in educational institutions within the state. The Department of Education is tasked with adopting rules regarding the rights of personnel to appeal any denials of clearance based on criminal history. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 106-B:18-b