Kaminsky introduces legislation to fingerprint all school employees

Leslie Brody for the Wall Street Journal

Originally published in New York Bill Would Tighten Background Checks for Private-School Employees

PHOTO: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGE

Staff at New York private schools would have to submit fingerprints and undergo comprehensive background checks under a new child-safety measure introduced this week by state lawmakers.

Currently, public-school employees must be fingerprinted but private schools are exempt from that statewide requirement.

State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat from Long Island, said his bill aims to end the double standard. “People would be shocked to know this loophole exists,” he said. “This is something that is long overdue.”

Many private and religious schools say they typically conduct criminal history checks before hiring staff, but some child advocates say fingerprinting through a state system would ensure more thorough searches, potentially deterring applicants from submitting false or incomplete information to cover up past troubles.

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