CA SB531

Exempts employees of contractors providing work experience opportunities or workplace placements (including individualized education program placements) from criminal background check requirements if at least one designated adult employee at the workplace has a valid criminal records summary and the pupil's parent or guardian signs a consent form.

Requires local educational agencies to conduct at least one visitation every three weeks to check on pupils in workplace placements, consulting with the workplace liaison and monitoring the pupil's health, safety, and welfare.

For independent study programs where pupils are under parental supervision, requires local educational agencies to either verify criminal background clearance for all contractor employees or obtain parental consent acknowledging that an employee has not completed a background check.

Maintains the general requirement that contractor employees interacting with pupils outside of immediate parental or school employee supervision must have valid criminal records summaries, with exceptions only for emergencies or essential facility repairs.

Took effect immediately upon Governor approval on October 8, 2023, as an urgency statute.