HB582 Summary

• Expands the Alabama Child Protection Act of 1999 to require criminal history background information checks on contractual service provider employees who may have access to school property when students are present, in addition to existing requirements for certified and noncertified education employees.

• Requires contractual service providers to submit two sets of fingerprints, written consent, and a nonrefundable fee conforming to National Child Protection Act guidelines; checks include both Alabama Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation reports.

• Mandates background checks be repeated every five years and prohibits contractual service provider employees convicted of child abuse crimes (involving physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or maltreatment of a child) from accessing school property.

• Establishes Class C misdemeanor penalties for contractual service providers who allow unsuitable employees to work on school property and for unsuitable employees who gain access to school property.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.