MO HB1911

School districts are made responsible for conducting criminal background checks on school bus drivers employed directly by the district prior to drivers having contact with pupils.

For bus drivers employed by a pupil transportation company under contract with the school district, the background check must be conducted as required in section 43.540 and conform to the National Child Protection Act of 1993 as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act.

School districts may allow bus drivers to operate buses pending the results of the criminal background check.

Background checks require two sets of fingerprints collected per Missouri Highway Patrol standards, with one set searched by the Highway Patrol and one forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Applicants must pay fees for state and federal criminal history record information, which are distributed to the Missouri Highway Patrol by the school district.