Kansas considers updating background check regulations for school bus drivers

oard is considering whether it should require bus drivers to have a completely clean background check, with any felony record at any point in time being cause for disqualification for future employment or termination from current employment. It appears that parents of children in Kansas schools are divided on whether or not the expansion of the background check regulations makes sense, when it comes to events that happened more than 10 years prior. Some think that if a felony occurred more than a decade prior and the driver has had a clean record since, they should not be penalized; others want to know that their children are not in a vehicle with someone who has had any criminal convictions at any point in time, regardless of how long ago the conviction took place. Some types of felonies do, of course, prevent individuals from working around or in proximity to children entirely. The proposed language of the legislation states that any “individual [that] has been convicted in any state or federal court of any crime involving a child” would not be able to drive a school bus. The proposal also removes any mention of a 10-year limit. “Certainly we want to do everything we can to ensure that our kids are safe,” said Kenneth Willard, the 7^th district representative for the Board of Education. “And that’s just a bigger issue all the time. We’ve taken some measures over time to really beef up security and background checks for everybody that’s having contact with kids.” The proposed changes are expected to go to the Kansas Attorney General.]]>