Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Beginning July 1, many new laws will be going into effect in the state of Indiana. Among them is a law passed by the General Assembly earlier this year to prevent child abuse in our school systems.
House Enrolled Act 1005, sponsored by Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn), includes a provision by Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) that requires school corporations, charter schools and nonpublic schools to check with the Indiana Department of Child Services and other states’ child welfare agencies to see if there are substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect against any employee or contractor no later than three months after hire.
The law also requires these schools to check with the Indiana Department of Education and other states’ educator-licensing agency to see if a licensed employee has ever had his or her license suspended or revoked.
Under the new law, confidentiality agreements between a school and an employee are nullified if a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect is found. Schools will now be allowed to dismiss or refuse to hire a person based on a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect.
Prior to HEA 1005, non-accredited private schools were not subject to Indiana’s background check requirements. This gap in the law will now be closed to ensure children are protected at all schools around Indiana.
HEA 1005 goes into effect this Friday, July 1.
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