Contractors in Delaware may be screened

In an effort to increase the safety of children on school grounds, a bill has been passed to the Delaware state Senate that would require contractors to submit to background checks, The Newark Post reports. "Currently, teachers, custodians and cafeteria workers all are required to have background checks," Ed Osienski, Democratic Representative, told The Newark Post. "Coming from the construction business, I knew that on particular jobs I had the same access to students as teachers and cafeteria workers. If they have to get checked, why not us? This just adds an extra level of protection for students." The legislation - House Bill 100 - would ban contractors previously convicted of violent or drug-related felonies from working at existing Delaware schools. The bill is supported by several local construction groups, including the Building Trades Commission, Associated Builders and Contractors and the Delaware Contractors Association. According to WDEL-AM, the prospective rule would close a loophole in current state law, since construction workers are the only workers on school grounds who aren't presently required to receive a background screening.