This bill revises the employment history review process for prospective employees in educational institutions, including school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers. Notably, it removes the previous 20-year limitation on reviewing former employers and mandates that applicants provide written authorization for the disclosure of their employment history. Employers are now required to maintain records of these reviews, which will be subject to audits by the Commissioner of Education. The bill also increases the civil penalty for applicants who provide false information from $500 to $10,000, thereby enhancing accountability in the hiring process.

Additionally, the legislation establishes a centralized school employee identification database managed by the Commissioner of Education, which will compile disqualifying information such as child abuse records and disciplinary actions. It requires school entities to conduct child abuse record checks before hiring and mandates applicant consent for these checks, with non-cooperation resulting in voided applications. The bill further outlines new procedures for investigating allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct, designates specific employees for these investigations, and prohibits contracting with service providers that do not follow similar procedures. Overall, these changes aim to improve the safety and integrity of hiring practices in educational settings, reflecting recommendations from the New Jersey State Commission of Investigations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:6-7.7, 18A:6-7.8, 18A:6-7.9, 18A:6-7.10, 18A:6-7.11, 18A:6-7.13