Rules adopted or amended pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 3. Reinstatement of certification, authorization, approval or renewal. Upon application by a person in the classes of educational personnel applicants described in Sec. 2, paragraph A and after successful completion of any reference and background checks that might otherwise be conducted, the Commissioner of Education shall reinstate the certification, authorization, approval or renewal under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 501 or 502 that was denied to a person solely on the basis of that person's refusal to comply with the requirements of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6103 on the basis of a sincerely held philosophical belief against the fingerprinting and criminal history record check requirements.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill allows educational personnel who have not been fingerprinted and who are seeking certification, authorization, approval or renewal from the Department of Education to seek exemption due to a sincerely held philosophical objection to the required fingerprinting and criminal history record check.

Education personnel who left their jobs due to the same objection are also allowed an exemption so they may seek reemployment in their field.