HOUSE BILL NO. 588

INTRODUCED BY B. LAWSON

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT IMPOSING A FEE FOR FINGERPRINTING AND CONDUCTING A BACKGROUND CHECK ON AN APPLICANT FOR TEACHER OR SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION; SUBMITTING THE FEE TO THE ELECTORATE; PROVIDING A CONTINGENT VOIDNESS PROVISION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Fingerprinting and background check for certification -- fee. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall require an applicant for a teacher or specialist certificate to submit to fingerprinting and a background check as a condition of application. The superintendent of public instruction may not issue a certificate to the applicant until state and federal authorities have reported the results of the fingerprinting and the background check to the superintendent of public instruction.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall assess a fee of $35 for fingerprinting and conducting the background check.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Submission of fee to electorate. This act shall be submitted to the qualified electors of Montana at the tax election to be held in 1999 by printing on the ballot the full title of this act and the following:

SHALL A NEW TAX, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, BE IMPOSED?

[]	FOR imposing a fee of $35 for fingerprinting and conducting a background check on an applicant for teacher or specialist certification.

[]	AGAINST imposing a fee of $35 for fingerprinting and conducting a background check on an applicant for teacher or specialist certification.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. Section 1 is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 4, part 1, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 4, part 1, apply to section 1.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Contingent voidness. If Constitutional Initiative No. 75, enacting Article VIII, section 17, of the Montana constitution, is declared invalid, then this act is void.

NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. If approved by the electorate, this act is effective July 1, 1999.

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