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Anyone who wishes to volunteer at a school in Florida must now authorize and pass a Level 2 criminal background check.

An Act Relating To Background Screenings

In 2023, Florida legislators passed Senate Bill 676 (SB676), also known as An Act Relating To Background Screenings. The law is now in effect and being enforced throughout the state.

SB676 says all school employees and volunteers must undergo a background check as a condition of employment. Screenings are required to include:

• A statewide criminal history check that is conducted by the Department of Law Enforcement.
• A national criminal records check that is conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• A search of criminal history records, sexual predator and sexual offender registries, and child abuse and neglect registries of any state in which the candidate has lived during the previous 5 years.

To Be Eligible

The law further notes that, for a person to be eligible as a volunteer, they may not have an arrest record which is awaiting a final disposition or have been found guilty of various types of offenses. Existing laws created similar requirements for potential employees, but SB676 stipulates that this requirement also applies to individuals who wish to offer their time and assistance at any school.

Previously, volunteers were required to submit to a name-based background check, but the new law strengthens this and mandates that people must go through a Level 2 screening. This is a more comprehensive criminal check which screens for violent crimes, sexual offenses and drug charges.

Why This Law Was Created

Laws like SB676 are developed to help protect students. They are designed to create safer environments and help avoid the possibility of a school bringing on someone who has a serious criminal record. Background checks are important to every business and essential to any organization that works directly with vulnerable populations like children or elderly individuals.

SB676 also requires the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse to allow the results of certain screenings to be shared among specified agencies and qualified entities. This is another step towards making sure various agencies are communicating and working together to protect younger people.

Employment Background Checks

If your organization needs comprehensive background checks for potential employees, volunteers or contractors, we are here to help. Backgrounds Online is a Consumer Reporting Agency that is proudly accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA). Every member of our team is highly trained on how to provide unparalleled customer service and produce background reports which contain current, accurate and actionable data.

Our team is based in California and available to assist you Monday through Friday from 5am to 6pm. , Please contact us to learn more about what we can do for you.