INDIANAPOLIS | Applicants for jobs at Indiana schools would pay more for a national background check under legislation approved 47-0 by the Senate on Thursday, but the sponsor believes it's worth it.
"It is absolutely minimal when it comes to the protection of our children," said state Sen. Tom Wyss, R-Fort Wayne.
Senate Bill 160, which now goes to the House, eliminates the option of an approximately $25 state-only background check and requires school job applicants to undergo a $40 national check of criminal and sex offender records before hire.
Wyss said the Indiana-only check could miss applicants with felony records in other states. The national check requires fingerprinting and will catch criminals who change their names, he said.
State Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, is co-sponsor of the legislation.
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