A bill proposing a student‑mentor program that would let school districts create optional mentor programs and require statewide background checks for mentors drew questions about whether the measure simply codifies existing practice or changes the law.

The sponsor told the committee the Department of Education had suggested language to align the bill with department practice and said the measure would require criminal records checks, child‑maltreatment central registry checks, and other vetting before mentors could serve in schools. The sponsor described the change as a codified process to ensure districts and schools check mentors’ backgrounds before they are placed with students.

Committee members asked whether volunteers currently can enter schools without background checks. The sponsor replied that most of the practices are already allowed but that the department could clarify whether every existing volunteer pathway already requires the checks spelled out in the bill. The measure was amended in committee to reflect department suggestions and then presented for a vote; committee members then completed a roll call where some members voted aye but the presiding officer stated there were only three votes in the room initially and later concluded the committee did not have enough votes to adopt the motion as a final recorded action.

Ending: Sponsors said the bill was amended to reflect Department of Education feedback and that codifying the checks would provide consistent vetting across districts; because committee action was incomplete the bill’s future depends on further committee scheduling or reintroduction.