HB 6043 Summary

• School districts, public school academies, intermediate school districts, and nonpublic schools must require job applicants to sign a statement authorizing disclosure of any unprofessional conduct from current or former employers and authorizing release of related personnel records.

• Schools must request information about unprofessional conduct from at least the applicant's current employer or most recent previous employer within 20 business days, and employers disclosing information in good faith are immune from civil liability.

• Schools cannot hire applicants who refuse to sign the required statement, and schools are prohibited from entering into agreements that suppress information about unprofessional conduct or allow expungement of substantiated misconduct from personnel records.

• Schools receiving information about immorality, moral turpitude, inappropriate behavior involving minors, listed sex offenses involving minors, or crimes involving minors must report this information to the state department within 60 days, with the department maintaining records for at least 6 years.

• Defines "unprofessional conduct" to include misconduct, immorality, moral turpitude, inappropriate behavior involving minors, listed sex offenses involving minors, or commission of crimes involving minors, with criminal conviction not required as proof.