Thursday, July 12, 2012

Rhode Island Making Background Checks Mandatory

Rhode Island Making Background Checks Mandatory

Submitted by: Alecia Pratt with Fullidentity.com - 214-331-2551

A trending subject today is background checks and educational mentoring programs. The Rhode Island House of Representatives has passed a law to produce educational programs safer for that students. It is a step in the right direction. Personally, I can not believe that this hasn't been done sooner. Especially since background checks have been made so accessible to everybody.

Introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) and passed today, House bill (2012-H7077)requires a national and state criminal background check for anybody attempting to participate in a mentoring program working together with students. This will help to keep out the mentors with ill intentions.

State law already requires background checks for those seeking employment with a private school or public school department, "and also this legislation expands the scope of these law to incorporate others who could have direct and regular connection with teenagers, in college settings or other mentoring situations," said McNamara, chairman of the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare.

"As programs such as these grow at school settings, adding this language to law could be the safe and responsible action to take," he stated.

The bill was created by counsel of the Rhode Island Mentoring Program, a non-profit organization that gives training and support for mentoring agencies within the state. The group operates the Feinstein Mentor Training Institute and one-on-one school-based mentoring programs in Warwick, Woonsocket and on Aquidneck Island.

McNamara, a Warwick Democrat, says it seems sensible to expand legislation as schools increasingly use volunteers in mentoring programs.

The House passed the legislation Wednesday. The bill now moves on the Senate for consideration.

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