Bill would require districts to adopt student‑protection policies and fingerprint checks for unsupervised adults

Representative Leman introduced House Bill 745 to require school districts to adopt a student‑protection policy that ensures any individual with unsupervised contact with students undergoes fingerprint background checks.

Proponents — including Rob Watson (Coalition of Advocates for Montana’s Public Schools) and Katie Bluggett/Bloodgood (Office of Public Instruction) — described the bill as a common‑sense gap closer. Watson said the requirement largely aligns with model policy from the School Boards Association and that many districts already perform fingerprint checks; he described how electronic fingerprinting has reduced turnaround time in most communities. OPI’s legislative liaison said the change closes loopholes present where policies vary and reinforces district accountability to report and correct failures to comply.

Committee members asked practical questions about volunteers, program staff and reciprocity: whether once‑only fingerprinting could apply across a district, how the policy would treat volunteers who assist in supervised versus unsupervised roles, and whether background checks done for other federal employers (e.g., Indian Health Service, registered apprenticeship sponsors) could be leveraged. Proponents and the sponsor said local boards would craft policies and can specify duration or exemptions; in past local implementations volunteers adapted to the requirement and often supported districts in covering any costs.

The transcript records discussion of potential capacity at the Department of Justice to process fingerprint checks and a small fiscal note estimating one FTE if every school participated; witnesses said the bulk of schools already conduct checks and digital submissions shorten processing time. The hearing closed with general support from education stakeholders and no opponents appearing on the record.