S355 would amend Section 38R of chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws to eliminate the fee currently charged to applicants for fingerprint-based criminal background checks for teachers and school personnel. Under the bill, applicants would no longer be required to pay any fee intended to offset the costs of operating and administering the fingerprint-based background check system.
The measure shifts those operating and administrative costs from applicants to the Commonwealth, making the state fully responsible for funding the fingerprint-based criminal background check system. In practical terms, the bill is aimed at reducing out-of-pocket costs for educators and other school employees who must undergo fingerprint-based screening as part of the hiring or employment process.
Impact
The bill would directly amend existing education law governing fingerprint-based criminal background checks for school personnel by removing the applicant fee provision and replacing it with a requirement that the Commonwealth bear all related costs. This would affect teacher applicants, school employees, and the state agency or system administering background checks, while reducing a hiring-related expense for individuals seeking or maintaining employment in schools.
Sentiment
Based on the bill title and sponsorship, the measure appears to be framed positively as a cost-reduction and workforce-support proposal for teachers and school personnel. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented debate or formal vote history to indicate broader support or opposition. The available context suggests the bill is intended to be straightforward and beneficial to applicants rather than controversial.
Contention
The main policy issue is fiscal responsibility: the bill transfers the cost of fingerprint-based background checks from individual applicants to the Commonwealth. Supporters would likely view this as an equitable way to reduce barriers for educators and school staff, while any opposition would likely focus on the added cost to state finances and whether applicants should continue to share in the expense of required screening. No specific objections or competing viewpoints are recorded in the provided materials.
Replaced by
Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on Education, to make an investigation and study of certain current Senate documents relative to education matters.
Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on Education, to make an investigation and study of certain current Senate documents relative to education matters.
Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight to make an investigation and study of a certain current Senate document relative to reducing the cost of government and creating jobs.