School boards must wait for checks before appointing replacements

The Commissioner of Elections must decide whether an applicant qualifies for a vacant school board seat. This applies to appointments for vacancies that arise for reasons other than a term ending. Applicants must complete a background check and meet the qualifications for election to that seat. The commissioner must make that decision before the board appoints the person.

State agencies must send check results to the Commissioner of Elections. This covers people seeking appointment to fill a school board vacancy until the next school board election. The results include criminal background information and Child Protection Registry information. The agencies have 15 days from a request for the checks to provide the results.