The bill amends existing laws regarding record checks for volunteers and contractors who will have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children or individuals with developmental disabilities. It mandates that various educational entities, including school districts and the Washington center for deaf and hard of hearing youth, conduct thorough background checks through the Washington State Patrol and the FBI before hiring employees in specific roles. New provisions include that the requesting entity can only access the record report in accordance with rules set by the superintendent of public instruction, and they must notify the entity of any disqualifications resulting from the record check. Additionally, the bill allows for conditional employment pending the completion of the record check and waives the requirement for applicants who have undergone a check within the last two years.

Furthermore, the bill expands the scope of record checks to include prospective volunteers and outlines the definition of "unsupervised" access. It also stipulates that individuals with a valid portable background check clearance card can meet the requirements by providing their background report results. The superintendent of public instruction is tasked with adopting necessary rules to implement these changes, which include ensuring access to record check information is limited to specific individuals and entities involved in processing this information. The bill aims to enhance the safety and security of children and individuals with developmental disabilities by ensuring thorough vetting of those who will have unsupervised access to them.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.400.303, 28A.400.305