FL S0906

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services takes over fingerprinting and background checks from Department of Law Enforcement, issuing statewide certificates for noninstructional school employees and contractors with student access or school fund control.

Certificate applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, at least 18 years old, and meet level 2 screening standards under s. 435.04.

Employees and contractors must bear the cost of state and federal criminal history checks and inform their employer within 48 hours if convicted of a disqualifying offense.

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services must maintain a certificateholder database and compare it to the Florida Criminal Information Center database at least every 3 months, notifying school districts of disqualified persons.

Certificateholders must carry photo identification certificates at all times on school grounds and display them on demand; violation is a noncriminal offense punishable by a $25 fine to the school district.