(a) It is the clear intent of the General Assembly to authorize each public school district at its discretion to require criminal background checks and Child Maltreatment Central Registry checks of existing nonlicensed employees in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as set forth in this section, and §§ 6-17-414 and 6-17-416 for newly hired nonlicensed applicants.
(b)
(1) Any school district that, by a vote of its local school district board of directors, requires criminal records background checks and Child Maltreatment Central Registry checks for existing nonlicensed employees shall pay the full cost of the criminal records background checks and Child Maltreatment Central Registry checks.
(2)
(A) Upon completion of the statewide and nationwide criminal records background checks and the Child Maltreatment Central Registry check, the Identification Bureau of the Division of Arkansas State Police or the Department of Human Services shall forward all releasable information to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
(B) Within thirty (30) days of receiving all releasable information that has been forwarded by the Identification Bureau and the Department of Human Services under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall inform the board of directors of the educational entity whether or not the affected applicant is eligible for employment as provided under § 6-17-414.
(3) A public school district under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall require that an existing nonlicensed employee complete a criminal records background check and Child Maltreatment Central Registry check at least one (1) time every five (5) years.