MN SF19

Requires the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and Board of School Administrators to obtain criminal history background checks on all first-time teaching applicants, including fingerprints and payment from the applicant.

Background checks must include review of information from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, criminal history data, and the national criminal records repository.

Authorizes the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to exchange fingerprints with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to recover background check costs through applicant fees.

Changes the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board's ability to contract with the commissioner of human services from mandatory ("must") to optional ("may") for conducting background checks and obtaining background check data.