HR 398

HLS 26RS-6308  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 398
 BY REPRESENTATIVE FREEMAN
 SCHOOLS/EMPLOYEES: Requests that the state Department of Education study the costs
  associated with criminal background checks for teachers and other school employees
  and submit a written report to the House Committee on Education by March 1, 2027
1A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the state Department of Education to study the costs associated with
3criminal background checks for teachers and other school employees and to submit
4a written report of findings and conclusions, including any recommendations for
5related legislation, to the House Committee on Education not later than March 1,
62027.
7WHEREAS, state law provides relative to criminal background checks for teachers
8 and other school employees for the purposes of both certification and employment; and
9WHEREAS, relative to employment generally, R.S. 15:587.1 requires the employer
10 of anyone who has been given, or has applied to be considered for, a position of supervisory
11 or disciplinary authority over children to request in writing that the bureau of criminal
12 identification and information supply information to ascertain whether that person has been
13 arrested for or convicted of, or pled nolo contendere to, any criminal offense; and
14WHEREAS, relative to the employment of teachers and other school employees, R.S.
15 17:15 requires each city, parish, and other local public school board to establish
16 requirements and procedures consistent with the provisions of R.S. 15:587.1 to determine
17 whether applicants or employees have been arrested for or convicted of, or pled nolo
18 contendere to, any criminal offense; this law also applies to charter schools; and
19WHEREAS, relative to certification, R.S. 17:8.9 authorizes the state Department of
20 Education to charge a criminal history record check processing fee not to exceed twenty-five
  Page 1 of 2
 HLS 26RS-6308  ORIGINAL
  HR NO. 398
1 dollars, which may be increased by up to five percent annually; to collect the processing fees
2 charged by the state or federal government for a criminal history record check; and to collect
3 fees charged by sheriffs and third-party vendors for fingerprinting; and
4WHEREAS, legislators have heard from constituents who are concerned about the
5 costs associated with background checks, and there is interest in determining the costs of
6 background checks for teachers and other school employees, who pays these costs, how the
7 payment of these costs is handled by school governing authorities across the state, and if
8 there are ways to defray such costs if borne by teachers or other school employees.
9THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
10 Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the state Department of Education to
11 study the costs associated with criminal background checks for teachers and other school
12 employees and to submit a written report of findings and conclusions, including any
13 recommendations for related legislation, to the House Committee on Education not later than
14 March 1, 2027.
15BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall include, at a minimum, the costs
16 associated with criminal background checks required by law for the certification and
17 employment of teachers and other school employees, who pays these costs, how the payment
18 of these costs is handled by school governing authorities across the state, and if there are
19 ways to defray such costs if borne by teachers or other school employees.
20BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department may seek input from the
21 legislative auditor relative to this study.
  DIGEST
 The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
 of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
 part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
 HR 398 Original  2026 Regular Session  Freeman
 Requests that the state Dept. of Education study the costs associated with criminal
 background checks for teachers and other school employees and submit a written report of
 findings and conclusions, including any recommendations for related legislation, to the
 House Committee on Education not later than March 1, 2027.
  Page 2 of 2