STATEHOUSE (Jan. 17, 2013) – State Sen. Tom Wyss (R- Fort Wayne) today announced his legislation to protect students while in school moved out of the Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law. Senate Bill 160 passed the committee Tuesday by a vote of 9-0.
Currently, school corporations can request either a national criminal history background check or a background check that searches state records. SB 160 would remove the second option and mandate any prospective school employee to undergo a national criminal history background check before being hired by an Indiana school corporation.
“This is a more comprehensive way of preserving the safety of our students,” Wyss said. “In our schools’ current hiring systems, it’s easy for criminals to slip through the cracks if an employer only asks for a state background check. Now that we’re only giving school administrators one option, we can ensure that won’t happen.
“Leaving room for error is unacceptable when it comes to taking care of our children. This may seem like a small change, but it will make a major difference in school security.”
SB 160 is eligible to be heard by the full Indiana Senate today.
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