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Background check flexibility

Published (3/14/2008)
By Thomas Hammell
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A bill sponsored by Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-St. Louis Park) would allow a school to contract with a third party to conduct criminal background checks, which are required by statute.

HF2955 was approved March 11 by the House E-12 Education Committee and referred to the House Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee.

Annie Doughty, executive director of human resource services for Wayzata Public Schools, said the district must now use the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for background checks, though it does do an additional check through a third-party vendor. The district does between 500 and 600 background checks a year for new substitutes, new employees and coaches.

“Our main objective is to keep kids safe,” she said.

Doughty said the BCA does a check based on name and birth date, while the private vendor they use also performs checks based on addresses generated by the person’s Social Security number. They then go to those counties to get information. She said the BCA has made it clear that it does not have the resources to do this type of investigation.

A school hiring authority wanting to perform a more in-depth check would need to receive permission from a state compact officer; provide the officer with the contract; and ask the officer if the contractor has any security violations. The contract must specify the reasons why the background check information may be made available. The subject of a criminal history background check by a third-party contractor would have the right to obtain a copy of the background check.

A companion bill, SF2754, sponsored by Sen. Don Betzold (DFL-Fridley) awaits action by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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