An Administrator's Guide to California Private School Law

4. Potential Liability For Failure To Conduct Background Check ..................................................55 C. Initiating A Background Check..............................................................................................................55 1. Ensure That The Application Is Complete ..................................................................................55 2. Decide Who Will Conduct The Background Check....................................................................57 3. Obtain A Signed Waiver And Authorization...............................................................................57 4. Determine Which Candidates Will Be Investigated ....................................................................57 D. Conducting A Background Check..........................................................................................................58 1. Verify Information About Applicants .........................................................................................58 2. Information Available From Public Sources ...............................................................................58 3. Contact Individuals Who Actually Supervised Applicant ...........................................................59 4. Conducting The Reference Check...............................................................................................60 5. Use A Questionnaire....................................................................................................................60 6. Verify Education, Licenses, And Certifications ..........................................................................61 E. Credit Checks/Consumer Reports ..........................................................................................................61 1. The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act........................................................................................62 2. The California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act ...............................................64 3. Restrictions On Use Of Consumer Credit Reports For Employment Purposes...........................67 F. Fingerprints ............................................................................................................................................68 1. How To Set Up A CORI Account With The Department Of Justice ..........................................68 2. Schools Must Fingerprint All Applicants Who Are Being Considered For A Position Which Requires Contact With Minor Students.......................................................................................70 3. Schools Are Entitled To Records Of Convictions And Arrests Pending Adjudication For Applicants For Positions With Supervisory Or Disciplinary Power Over Minors ......................70 4. Notification Of Subsequent Arrests.............................................................................................70 5. Requirements For Employing Contract Employees ....................................................................71 6. Requirements For Employing Construction Contractors.............................................................71 G. Convictions And Criminal Offender Record Information......................................................................71 1. Use Of Criminal Background Information Generally .................................................................71 2. Criminal History Information Schools May Not Seek Or Consider............................................72 3. Criminal Convictions Preventing Employment...........................................................................72 4. Consideration Of Applicants With Other Criminal Convictions .................................................73 5. The Limits On Using Megan’s Law Website In Making Employment Decisions ......................75 H. Responding To A Request For Background Information.......................................................................76 1. Potential Liabilities To The Employee ........................................................................................76 2. Potential Liability To Subsequent Employers .............................................................................77 3. Background Response Policy ......................................................................................................78 Section 5 Record-Keeping And Retention .............................................................................................................79 A. Statutory And Regulatory Requirements ...............................................................................................80 1. Federal Authorities ......................................................................................................................80 2. California Authorities..................................................................................................................80 B. Right To Inspect And Receive A Copy Of Personnel File.....................................................................81 C. Avoiding Discriminatory Failure To Hire Lawsuits...............................................................................81 Section 6 Maintenance of Personnel Files .............................................................................................................82 A. Why Maintain Personnel Files ...............................................................................................................82 B. Who Should Maintain The Personnel File?............................................................................................83 C. Where Should Schools Maintain The Personnel File? ...........................................................................83 D. Supervisor’s Files...................................................................................................................................83 E. What Information Should Schools Place In Personnel Files ..................................................................83 F. What Information Should Not Be Placed in Personnel Files .................................................................84 G. Information Required By The Immigration Reform And Control Act...................................................84 H. Employee’s Right To Dispute The Contents Of Personnel Files ...........................................................85 1. Overview .....................................................................................................................................85 2. Employee’s Right To Notice And Opportunity To Comment About Entry ................................85 I. Right To Inspect And Receive A Copy Of The Personnel File..............................................................85 J. Internal Disclosure .................................................................................................................................86

An Administrator’s Guide to California Private School Law ©2019 Liebert Cassidy Whitmore vi