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Bill

SB 246

Requiring all applicants for teaching licenses and certificates and employees of a school district or public innovative district to submit to a criminal history record check and creating the criminal history record check reimbursement fund for certain state and criminal history record checks conducted by the Kansas department for aging and disability services.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas requires criminal background checks for all teaching applicants and school employees, establishing a state reimbursement fund for check costs.

Died in Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 246

Legislative bill overview

SB 246 mandates criminal history record checks for all teaching license applicants and school district employees in Kansas. The bill also establishes a reimbursement fund to cover costs of state and federal criminal history checks conducted by the Department for Aging and Disability Services.

Why is this important

Criminal background screening for school personnel directly affects child safety protocols and hiring practices across Kansas public education. The reimbursement fund addresses fiscal responsibility by determining who bears the cost of these checks—schools, applicants, or the state—which impacts both district budgets and employment barriers.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost allocation: Whether applicants should pay for their own background checks (potential barrier to teaching careers) or if districts/state should absorb costs
  • Scope of criminal history: What offenses trigger disqualification and whether the bill adequately distinguishes between serious crimes and minor offenses
  • Administrative burden: Implementation timeline and whether schools have capacity to process checks for all current and future employees, particularly in resource-limited districts
  • Privacy concerns: Data security and how criminal records are stored and accessed by the Department for Aging and Disability Services

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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