The bill aims to enhance parental involvement in schools by establishing guidelines for parents with criminal convictions who wish to volunteer. It introduces a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW, which mandates that schools must inform volunteer applicants about the process for submitting documents related to criminal innocence or rehabilitation. If a parent has submitted such documents for all their convictions and has not been convicted of any crime since, the school cannot deny their volunteer application based solely on their criminal history. For parents who have not submitted these documents, schools are required to consider various factors, including the time elapsed since the last conviction and whether the conviction involved a minor child victim, before making a decision on the application.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws, specifically RCW 28A.320.155 and RCW 28A.400.303, to clarify the process for criminal record checks for volunteers and employees in schools. It specifies that schools must require volunteers to sign a disclosure statement confirming no new convictions since their last background check. The bill also defines key terms such as "parent," "school," and "unsupervised," and outlines the appeal process for parents whose volunteer applications are denied. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a more inclusive environment for parents with criminal records while ensuring the safety of children in educational settings.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.400.303