§ 16-2-18.4. Criminal records review for volunteers.
(a) Any person who is a current or prospective volunteer of a private school or public school department and who may have direct and unmonitored contact with children and/or students on school premises, shall undergo a state criminal background check to be initiated prior to or within one week of commencement of such volunteer work.
(b) The applicant shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification (BCI), department of attorney general, state police or local police department where he or she resides, for a state criminal records check. Upon the discovery of any disqualifying information, the bureau of criminal identification, state police or local police department will inform the applicant in writing of the nature of the disqualifying information; and, without disclosing the nature of the disqualifying information will notify the school department in writing that disqualifying information has been discovered.
(c) A person against whom disqualifying information has been found may request that a copy of the criminal background report be sent to the school department which shall make a judgment regarding the qualifications and fitness of said person to volunteer for the school department.
(d) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau of criminal identification, state police or local police department shall inform the applicant and the school department in writing of this fact.
(e) For purposes of this section, “disqualifying information” means those offenses listed in § 23-17-37, and those offenses listed in §§ 11-37-8.1 and 11-37-8.3.
(f) The school department shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of elementary and secondary education, evidence that criminal records checks have been initiated on all volunteers seeking employment subsequent to July 1, 2012, and the results of the checks. The current or prospective volunteer shall be responsible for the costs of the state criminal records check.
(g) As used in this section and § 16-2-18.5, the term “school department” means the school department for a public school as well as the governing administrative body for a private school.
History of Section.P.L. 2013, ch. 34, § 2; P.L. 2013, ch. 45, § 2.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Section 16-2-1. - Cities included as towns.
Section 16-2-2. - City and town schools required — School year — Location — Kindergartens.
Section 16-2-3. - Emergency reduction of school year.
Section 16-2-5.1. - Professional development.
Section 16-2-6. - Chairperson and clerk of city or town committee.
Section 16-2-7. - Distribution of documents and blanks by clerk.
Section 16-2-8. - Regular meetings of committee.
Section 16-2-9. - General powers and duties of school committees. [Effective until January 1, 2023.]
Section 16-2-9.1. - Code of basic management principles and ethical school standards.
Section 16-2-9.2. - Joint purchasing agreements.
Section 16-2-9.3. - The advisory council on school finances.
Section 16-2-9.4. - School district accounting compliance.
Section 16-2-9.5. - Other post-employment benefits — OPEB trusts.
Section 16-2-9.6. - Joint purchasing agreements for technology and IT infrastructure.
Section 16-2-10. - Certification of superintendents.
Section 16-2-11. - General powers and duties of superintendent.
Section 16-2-11.1. - General powers and duties of school principals.
Section 16-2-12. - Joint superintendent employed by two or more cities or towns.
Section 16-2-13. - Joint committee — Annual convention — Superintendent — Dissolution.
Section 16-2-15. - Location of schools — Control of property.
Section 16-2-16. - Rules and regulations — Curriculum.
Section 16-2-17. - Right to a safe school.
Section 16-2-17.1. - In school suspensions.
Section 16-2-18. - Selection of teachers and superintendent — General control of schools — Expenses.
Section 16-2-18.1. - Criminal records review.
Section 16-2-18.2. - Prior criminal records checks.
Section 16-2-18.3. - Rules and regulations.
Section 16-2-18.4. - Criminal records review for volunteers.
Section 16-2-18.5. - Prior criminal records checks for school volunteers.
Section 16-2-19. - Children attending in adjoining cities or towns.
Section 16-2-20. - Visitation and examination of schools.
Section 16-2-21. - Pre-budget consultation — Annual reports — Appropriation requests — Budgets.
Section 16-2-21.1. - Repealed.
Section 16-2-21.2. - Three-year budget forecasting process.
Section 16-2-21.3. - Meetings with city and town councils.
Section 16-2-21.4. - School budgets — Compliance with certain requirements.
Section 16-2-21.5. - Notification of state school aid to school districts.
Section 16-2-21.6. - Collective bargaining fiscal impact statements.
Section 16-2-23. - Expenditures pending annual appropriation.
Section 16-2-24. - Survey of city or town schools.
Section 16-2-25. - Distribution of powers in Providence and Cranston.
Section 16-2-26. - Special statutes prevailing.
Section 16-2-27. - Eligibility for attendance — Kindergarten.
Section 16-2-28. - Eligibility for attendance — First grade.
Section 16-2-28.1. - Regulations.
Section 16-2-28.2. - Kindergarten multiple sessions.
Section 16-2-30. - School lunch programs.
Section 16-2-31. - School crossing guard equipment.
Section 16-2-32. - Policy manual for school committee.
Section 16-2-33. - City of Woonsocket — Compensation to school committee members.
Section 16-2-33.1. - City of Woonsocket — School dress code.
Section 16-2-33.2. - City of Central Falls — School dress code.
Section 16-2-34. - Central Falls School District board of trustees.
Section 16-2-35. - The Middletown public schools sponsorship program.