Albany, NY – Senator Todd Kaminsky and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic introduced legislation requiring prospective employees at all schools across New York State to undergo fingerprinting and comprehensive, state-conducted background checks. Their legislation aims to protect students from abuse, while keeping predators out of all schools – both public and private.

“Our students are tomorrow’s leaders and it is critical for us to take every step necessary to ensure their safety in the classroom,” said Senator Todd Kaminsky. “It is imperative that everyone who has contact with students across our State undergo a comprehensive fingerprint-based criminal background check. We owe it to our children – regardless of which school they attend – to ensure they are protected in and out of the classroom.”

“With students spending a majority of their day in school, it is critical that their school environment be safe and supportive," said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. “Implementing a fingerprinting procedure that is already standard practice at public schools would provide families with peace of mind, knowing that all children are safe, no matter what school they attend.”

“The pleas of the child abuse victims, their families, and advocates, have not been in vain. Every voice has mattered. Every single activist has made a difference. Their perseverance, through trying times, has brought us here today. The State Legislature has listened. More than 400,000 non-public school children will be safer when the bill passes. If you want to work in a New York school, public or non-public, you must be fingerprinted, and screened for any serious criminal history. I hope and pray that this bill gives some comfort to those families who have lost loved ones to the evil scourge of child sex abuse. The bill sponsors, State Senator Todd Kaminsky, and Assembly Member Nily Rozic, have shown decisive leadership. The Wall Street Journal, and their Education Reporter Leslie Brody, shined the brightest light possible on this issue. My colleagues and I are proud to have participated in this process. This is, genuinely, a people's bill, born out of suffering, that seeks a brighter day for all school children,” said Elliot Pasik, attorney in private practice, and co-founder and president, Jewish Board of Advocates for Children, Long Beach, NY.

Under current law, public schools in New York State are mandated by Education Law § 305(30) to fingerprint prospective employees who have contact with students and submit them for comprehensive background checks by the State Department of Criminal Justice Services and FBI. However, such measures are optional for employees of New York’s non-public schools. This legislation would amend state law to require all elementary, middle and high schools – both public and non-public – across the State of New York to require the fingerprinting of all employees for the purposes of a government-conducted criminal background check.