MA H516

Schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers must screen all job applicants for positions involving direct contact with students by requiring disclosure of any prior abuse or sexual misconduct investigations, disciplinary actions, or license suspensions related to such allegations

Former employers must respond to background check requests within 120 days using a standardized Department of Elementary and Secondary Education form, and applicants with substantiated findings of physical or sexual abuse on the DCF Central Registry are disqualified from employment

Schools and contractors are prohibited from entering agreements that suppress information about abuse investigations, and individuals are barred from helping school employees with known sexual misconduct histories obtain new education jobs ("pass the trash" prohibition)

Provisional hiring is permitted for up to 90 days while background reviews are completed, and substitute employees need only one employment history review as long as they remain with the same school entity

The Attorney General may assess civil penalties up to $10,000 for willful violations, and the Department of Education must collect annual data on sexual misconduct reports and share with a national clearinghouse database