This bill amends 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 20-year limitation on reviewing former employers and requires applicants to provide written authorization for the disclosure of their employment history. Employers are now mandated to maintain records of these reviews, which will be subject to audits by the Commissioner of Education. Additionally, the bill increases the civil penalty for applicants who provide false information from $500 to $10,000, thereby enhancing accountability in the hiring process.

The legislation also establishes a secure, centralized school employee identification database managed by the Commissioner of Education, which will include information from applicants, employers, child abuse records, and disqualifications from employment. It requires school entities to conduct child abuse record checks before hiring individuals who will have regular contact with students. Furthermore, the bill outlines procedures for investigating allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct, mandates audits every five years to ensure compliance with child protection laws, and prohibits contracting with service providers lacking comparable investigation procedures. The Department of Education is tasked with training designated personnel and developing guidelines for involving law enforcement, with the Commissioner required to report findings and recommendations every five years to enhance oversight in New Jersey's educational institutions.

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