HB 1827 — requiring the department of education to conduct a confidential criminal history record check on all prospective educational personnel.

CHAPTER 123 HB 1827-FN-A - VERSIONFINAL ADOPTEDVERSION BY BOTH BODIES 19Feb2026...

CHAPTER 123 HB 1827-FN-A - VERSIONFINAL ADOPTEDVERSION BY BOTH BODIES 19Feb2026...

1123:1 New Section;

If, after 2 attempts, a set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, the department HB 1827-FN-A - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 2 - may, in lieu of the criminal history records check, accept police clearance from every city, town, or county where an applicant or candidate has lived during the past 10 years.

CHAPTER 123 HB 1827-FN-A - FINAL VERSION - Page 2 - (b) The department may require educational personnel to pay the actual costs of the criminal history records check.

632-A:3;632- A:3;

649-A:3-a;649-A:3- a;

2123:2 Effective Date.

LBAApproved: 26-2633 03/03/2026 HB 1827-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-0573h) AN ACT requiring the department of education to conduct a confidential criminal history record check on all prospective educational personnel.

FISCALJune IMPACT:05, 2026 Effective Date:

EstimatedJuly State01, Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Revenue $0 $0 Up to $588,000 Per Year Department of Education Credentialing Fund and Department of Safety Revenue Fund(s) Criminal Records Fund Expenditures* $0 $0 $446,000 $340,000 Funding Source(s) Department of Education Credentialing Fund Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 $0 Funding Source(s) None *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective July 1, 2027 (FY 2028), requires the Department of Education to conduct criminal history record checks for all non-educator credentialed individuals employed (full time or part time) in public schools, public academies, school administrative units (SAUs), public charter schools, and private special education schools.

The Department currently conducts criminal history record checks for several categories of school-related individuals, including school bus drivers, Professional Educator Preparation Program (PEPP) students, and new applicants for educator licensure.

The Department’s current fee for these checks is $100, and it issues clearances with a five-year validity for bus drivers and a four-year validity for PEPP students.

The Bureau of Educator Credentialing within the Department is responsible for administering these checks.

The Bureau is currently funded through fee revenue and receives no general fund appropriations.

Currently, the Department conducts approximately 3,000 checks annually, using approximately 1.5 staff positions to perform this work.

Under this bill, the Department anticipates aligning the new requirement with existing procedures and processes.

The Department estimates the bill would add approximately 20,000 individuals over a five-year period, or about 4,000 additional checks per year.

The Department anticipates that the costs associated with additional staffing and administrative support could be covered through the existing $100 fee per check, without the need for additional funding:

Department of Education Restricted Revenue and Expenditures Bureau of Credentialing FY 2028 FY 2029 Additional Revenue (4,000 Checks @ $100 Each) $400,000 $400,000       Costs     Two (2) Positions (SOC 13-04, Starting Step 7), and Related Costs $246,000 $240,000 Other Costs (i.e., IT programming and support costs as well as investigative, legal, and hearing fees for appeals) $200,000 $100,000 Total Costs $446,000 $340,000 The Department of Safety states it has a well-established internal process to handle the increase in background checks resulting from this bill, therefore the Department expects this bill will have no significant impact on its expenditures.

The Department charges $47 for the checks required by this bill, therefore this bill would increase revenue to the Criminal Records Fund up to $188,000 ($47 x 4,000 checks) per year.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Education and Department of Safety