requiring the department of education to conduct a confidential criminal history record check on all prospective educational personnel.

The bill's status label changed from 'AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE' to 'VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES,' reflecting that both chambers agreed on the same text without further changes.

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The entire original grant program (RSA 198:42-a) was removed. This included provisions for funding assistance to eligible school districts, 5-year grant awards, annual accountability plans tied to academic achievement, and a statewide assessment or district-developed standardized test to measure progress.

A new section (RSA 189:13-d) was added requiring the department of education to conduct confidential criminal history record checks on all prospective educational personnel who are not in positions requiring an educator credential, covering public schools, charter schools, academies, and non-public approved special education schools.

Two new definitions were added: 'educational personnel' (part-time or full-time employees of school units who do not hold educator credentials) and 'clearance' (a document confirming a criminal history check found no disqualifying violations).

Educational personnel must submit a criminal history records release form authorizing checks through state police and the FBI, plus a complete set of fingerprints. If two fingerprint attempts fail due to insufficient pattern, police clearance from every city, town, or county where the person lived in the past 10 years may be accepted instead.

The department must check all educational personnel against the NASDTEC database using their social security number and maintain a secure system for doing so.

A person is disqualified from employment if charged or convicted within the last 10 years of specific offenses including possession of a controlled drug with intent to sell (felony), various sexual offenses against minors (RSA 630-649 series), or obscenity involving a child. Additionally, no school may employ anyone whose educator license was revoked in New Hampshire or any other state.

The department must destroy all criminal history record information within 60 days of receiving it, and may require educational personnel to pay the actual costs of the check. The department must adopt rules governing the rights of educational personnel and their ability to appeal a denial of clearance.

The fiscal note was changed from showing estimated DOE position costs of $120K in FY28 and $123K in FY29 (for the grant program) to an essentially blank fiscal impact section for the criminal history check bill.