"Safer Students Act"; requires school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, contracted service providers, and institutions of higher education to review employment history of prospective employee for allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct.

S 2452, the "Safer Students Act," requires school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, contracted service providers, and colleges to review employment histories of prospective employees for allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. Specifically, it mandates that applicants provide a list of employers from the past 20 years (including those involving child contact) and authorize background checks, while schools must verify these histories using the Department of Human Services database and contact prior employers directly. The law also requires employers to report new hires to the state within 20 days (or 15 days electronically) for inclusion in the verification system. This bill is pending in the Senate Education Committee as of its January 13, 2026, introduction.