AB640: Bill Text

LRB-3553/1

MJL:jld:pg

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 640

November 10, 2003 - Introduced by Law Revision Committee. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB640,1,6 An Act to amend 15.377 (8) (c) 5m. and 118.19 (10) (c) of the statutes; relating to: allowing the use of technologies other than fingerprint cards for background checks related to teacher licensing and changing a statutory reference to reflect the name change of the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Public Instruction).

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, as part of the background check for teacher licensing, the Department of Public Instruction must fingerprint certain applicants using fingerprint cards. This bill allows the use of technologies other than fingerprint cards for the fingerprinting.

Current law contains a reference to the Wisconsin Association of Nonpublic Schools, which has changed its name to the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools (WCRIS). This bill changes the statutory reference to WCRIS.

For further information, see the Notes provided by the Law Revision Committee of the Joint Legislative Council.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

Law Revision Committee prefatory note: This bill is a remedial legislation proposal, requested by the Department of Public Instruction and introduced by the Law Revision Committee under s. 13.83 (1) (c) 4., stats. After careful consideration of the various provisions of the bill, the Law Revision Committee has determined that this bill makes minor substantive changes in the statutes, and that these changes are desirable as a matter of public policy.

AB640, s. 1 Section 1. 15.377 (8) (c) 5m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB640,2,4 15.377 (8) (c) 5m. One person licensed as a teacher and actively employed in a private school, recommended by the Wisconsin Association of Nonpublic Schools Council of Religious and Independent Schools.

Note: Under current law, one member of the professional standards council for teachers shall be recommended by the Wisconsin Association of Nonpublic Schools. The Wisconsin Association of Nonpublic Schools has changed its name to Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools. This bill amends the statutory reference to reflect that change.

AB640, s. 2 Section 2. 118.19 (10) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB640,2,14 118.19 (10) (c) If the person under par. (b) is a nonresident, or if the state superintendent determines that the person's employment, licensing or state court records provide a reasonable basis for further investigation, the state superintendent shall require the person to be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by law enforcement agencies. The department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrest and conviction.

Note: Under current law, certain individuals who are applying for teacher licensing are required to submit their fingerprints on a fingerprint card. This bill allows the use of technologies other than fingerprint cards for the fingerprinting.

AB640,2,15 (End)