Massachusetts background check law expanded for school employees, child care workers, adoptive and foster parents

Governor Patrick signed H4307  into law on January 10, 2013 to help protect children.  Under the new law, public and private school teachers, child care workers, school bus drivers, or persons seeking to adopt or become foster parents are required to submit fingerprints for a national background check.  Under the previous law, fingerprints were not required and only a Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information check was done.  All newly hired teachers, bus drivers and other school employees who may have direct unsupervised contact with children are required to undergo the national background check before the start of the 2013-2014 school year.  All current employees must undergo the background check prior to the start of the 2016-2017 school year.  See also our law about page on criminal records.