House Speaker wants criminal background checks for teachers

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State House Speaker Larry Adair is pushing for a law requiring new teachers undergo a criminal background check before being given a license to teach.

The proposal calls for the teacher to pay $15 for a background check by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. A more thorough check that would include fingerprints would cost $44 per teacher.

The bill also requires the O-S-B-I to notify a school superintendent if a school employee is convicted of a felony.

State schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett is asking legislators to require both state and national background checks of anyone who wants to become a teacher.