Legislation to run background checks on new and current school bus drivers and teachers looking for any prior child abuse charges was reported favorably out of the New Jersey Senate Education Committee and forwarded to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
If passed, S1210 would require the Department of Children and Families to conduct the check against its child abuse registry. Substantiated allegations of child abuse or neglect permanently disqualify any candidate from employment or service with a school district, including current employment, though the individual is afforded the right to first challenge the accuracy of any record.
School bus drivers as well as teachers would also have to provide written consent for DCF to conduct the child abuse check and would be responsible for paying all associated fees and costs. A spokeswoman for state Sen. Tony Bucco, who introduced the legislation, confirmed for School Transportation News that the school bus driver or applicant would be responsible for the fees, and she added that per state law CDL holders already pay additional costs tied to other background checks.
A similar bill is also in the state assembly, where it has remained in the chamber’s education committee since also being introduced in February.
