Bill
S 355
S.355 shifts fingerprint-based background-check costs for teachers and school staff from applicants to the Commonwealth, eliminating fees and lowering upfront hiring costs.
Note on title discrepancy
- The metadata included an alternate title referencing Medicare Part D, but the bill text and petition clearly concern fingerprint-based criminal background checks for teachers and school personnel. This summary follows the bill text and legislative actions provided.
Purpose and intent
- S. 355 requires the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to absorb the costs of operating and administering fingerprint-based criminal background checks for applicants who are teachers or other school personnel. The primary intent is to eliminate the fee applicants currently pay for those fingerprint checks, reducing up‑front hiring costs for educators and school employees.
Key provision(s)
- Amend Section 38R of Chapter 71 of the General Laws by replacing the statute’s last paragraph with:
- A prohibition on charging the applicant any fee to offset the operating and administrative costs of fingerprint-based criminal background checks.
- A mandate that those operating and administrative costs be fully borne by the Commonwealth (i.e., the state government).
Who is affected
- Directly affected:
- Teacher applicants and school personnel required to undergo fingerprint-based criminal background checks (new hires, transfers, or others as required by Chapter 71).
- Indirectly affected:
- School districts and hiring authorities (less burden to collect/cover applicant fees).
- State agencies that operate or contract for fingerprinting and background-check systems (responsible for receiving appropriations and managing payments).
- Massachusetts taxpayers and the state budget (state will assume the costs previously paid by applicants).
Fiscal and administrative impacts (anticipated)
- The bill shifts the financial burden from individual applicants to the Commonwealth; total fiscal impact depends on the number of fingerprint checks and per‑check operating costs (not specified in the bill).
- Implementation will likely require budgetary appropriation and administrative adjustments within the agency that manages teacher background checks (e.g., DESE or another designated state entity), and possibly updates to vendor contracts and fee collection practices.
Procedural status and timeline (as provided)
- Introduced: February 3, 2025.
- Committee referrals and actions: Referred to Education; read twice; reported and committed to Finance; hearings scheduled (e.g., 10/14/2025 and 12/02/2025 as listed); amendments adopted on third reading (355A).
- Passed Senate: May 20, 2025; delivered to the House/Assembly and referred to the Committee on Aging thereafter.
- Next steps: committee review(s), scheduled public hearings, House consideration, and if passed by both chambers, enrollment and gubernatorial action for enactment.
Bottom line
- S. 355 eliminates applicant-paid fees for fingerprint-based criminal background checks required under Chapter 71 for teachers and school personnel and requires the Commonwealth to pay those operating and administrative costs, shifting the financial responsibility to the state and reducing direct hiring costs for educators.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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