HB 2688 Summary

• Requires qualified schools enrolling qualified students to develop fingerprinting procedures for school personnel, with fingerprints submitted within twenty days of employment for state and federal criminal records checks.

• Permits qualified schools to require personnel to obtain a valid fingerprint clearance card as a condition of employment and allows schools to share fingerprint clearance results with other schools and school districts for employment purposes.

• Defines "school personnel" to include paid employees and certain non-paid individuals providing direct services to students, with specific exclusions for licensed professionals and employees rehired within one year.

• Establishes complaint procedures through the state board of education for qualified students or parents alleging violations, with penalties including reimbursement of Arizona empowerment scholarship account monies if violations are not corrected within sixty days.

• Amends multiple Arizona statutes to add section 15-2406 to fingerprinting requirements and exempts current school personnel from immediate compliance, allowing six months after the effective date to comply with new fingerprinting requirements.