Requiring all applicants for teaching licenses and certificates and employees of a school district or public innovative district to submit to a criminal history record check and creating the criminal history record check reimbursement fund for certain state and criminal history record checks conducted by the Kansas department for aging and disability services.

SB 246 requires all teaching license applicants and school employees with student contact in Kansas to undergo state and national criminal background checks. Applicants must pay for checks upfront, while school districts can cover costs for employees or require employees to pay fees. Checks must be conducted every five years (starting July 2025 for new hires, and from July 2025 for existing staff), with employees reporting certain convictions within 30 days. A new reimbursement fund will cover costs for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services conducting these checks.