SB 970 - Background Screening

• Requires virtual instruction program providers to submit signed affidavits stating all instructional personnel hold valid Florida educator certificates and have undergone background screening as required by section 1012.465.

• Expands disqualifying offenses for educator certification and employment positions requiring direct contact with students to include 30+ additional felony and misdemeanor offenses, including failure to report child abuse, human trafficking, weapons of mass destruction, and bribery.

• Mandates fingerprint-based criminal history background screening at least every 5 years for noninstructional school employees, contractual personnel, and virtual instruction providers with direct student contact or access to school funds.

• Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to enroll and maintain submitted fingerprints in the national retained print arrest notification program and search arrest fingerprints against retained fingerprints, reporting matches to school districts.

• Extends complaint filing requirements and criminal charge notification to approved virtual instruction providers under section 1002.45, treating them similarly to public, charter, and private schools.