LAC 28:CXXXI.1904. Criminal History Review for Certification

A. Effective beginning January 1, 2025, an applicant for an initial educator credential shall undergo a criminal history record check in accordance with this Section. For an applicant or recipient of an educator credential, the LDOE shall: 1. Request information from the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, referred to in this Section as the “state bureau,” and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, referred to in this Section as the “federal bureau,” concerning whether the person has been arrested for, convicted of, or pled nolo contendere to any criminal offense. 2. Require and provide the procedure for the submission of a person’s fingerprints to the state bureau, and from the state bureau to the federal bureau, in a form acceptable to the state bureau. 3. Review rap backs in accordance with R.S. 15:587.1 and this Section for any person with an educator credential when the person applies to have a credential renewed, advanced, or otherwise modified. B. An applicant for an educator credential shall submit required forms to obtain a state and federal criminal history check. C. Effective January 1, 2025, an application for certification renewal, advancement, or modification shall require state and federal criminal history checks for individuals for whom LDOE records do not include a state and federal criminal history check. D. The LDOE may require state and federal criminal history checks as otherwise requested. E. Upon receipt of a CBC conducted through LDOE, the department shall determine eligibility for certification as follows: 1. An applicant with no disqualifying convictions shall be cleared for certification, with the “Clear Credential” notation placed on the certification record. 2. The certification of an applicant with a felony conviction shall be sanctioned. Eligibility for records review and appeal to BESE shall be in accordance with §1909 and §1919 of this Chapter for felony convictions other than those felonies enumerated in R.S. 15:587.1. 3. An applicant with a felony or misdemeanor conviction enumerated in R.S. 15:587.1 shall receive a permanent denial or revocation of certification. An appeal to BESE is prohibited. F. Credentials issued by LDOE are subject to continuing rap back monitoring.