New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would require background checks for school volunteers.

The bill (A-1019) would require any individual who volunteers to provide service on an unpaid basis in a public school district to undergo a criminal history background check in accordance with the same standards and procedures used to conduct such checks on paid school district employees.

Under current law a school district may choose to conduct background checks on volunteers and if it does so then the district must bear the cost of the check. Under this bill, the volunteer would bear the cost of the check.

The bill passed the Assembly 74-2-1 in June and has now been referred to the Senate Education Committee.

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