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Committee approves background checks for school board candidates
Summary
HB 469 passed the education committee with a committee substitute requiring background checks and a CAN test for school board candidates; the county clerk would conduct the check and candidates are expected to pay the cost. The measure includes an exemption from the Kentucky Open Records Act for failed checks.
The House committee approved House Bill 469, a measure requiring candidates who file for local school board to undergo a background check and a CAN test conducted by the county clerk before their name appears on the ballot.
Representative Ryan Bivens, sponsor of the bill, told the committee that in his view "the most precious commodity we raise in the state is our children" and that school board candidates face unique access to school buildings and sometimes key card access. Under the committee substitute, the candidate would generally pay the cost of the background check; Representative Bivens said letting others pay could create campaign‑finance issues. He said county clerks would determine whether a candidate is "fit to go on the ballot."
Members asked about the criteria used to determine fitness and why language exempting certain records from public disclosure was included. Representative Bivens said the measure removed earlier proposed ethics language to focus on the background requirement and that many school districts already have ethics rules in place. He explained the bill includes a carve‑out to avoid public release of details that could embarrass a candidate who fails a check, referencing the Kentucky Open Records Act question raised in committee.
The committee adopted the committee substitute and voted to recommend HB 469 for passage on the House floor.
