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Screening law up for a rewrite

Sen. Nancy Argenziano plans to revise the provision on fingerprinting.

By EDDY RAMIREZ
Published October 12, 2005

INVERNESS - State Sen. Nancy Argenziano on Tuesday promised changes to clarify a fingerprinting law that school districts across the state have struggled to implement and enforce. But she warned that the fixes could cause districts to lose flexibility.

Argenziano told the Citrus County School Board that she has been frustrated after reading news stories and opinion pieces that she said misrepresent and overshadow the main intent of the Jessica Lunsford Act.

The law, which took effect Sept. 1, tightens controls on sex offenders. But a little noticed provision that requires schools to make certain that every construction worker, referee and commercial vendor has cleared a state and national background check has stirred much controversy.

"It really has created a lot of havoc," she said.

Argenziano said she will propose doing away with the "crimes of moral turpitude" clause that has caused much confusion and instead give districts specific crimes that would exclude a vendor from working on campus while children are present.

She also will propose exempting school vendors who have "incidental contact" with students, including people who deliver mail or come on campus to fix air conditioning units and have limited contact with students.

Argenziano sought to reassure volunteers and mentors that the Lunsford Act does not require them to undergo a state and federal screening, which costs $61 in Citrus County. But she said that could change. She plans to propose a second part to the Lunsford Act once the Florida Legislature is in session in March. That bill will expand the background checks to volunteers, she said, noting that school districts that already perform those checks have turned up people who have records of crimes against children. "If we leave the loopholes, then we're in trouble," she said.

She blasted school districts that have asked vendors to submit to additional screenings after they have been screened in other school districts.

"Why do I get calls from Citrus County vendors telling me that the county would impose multiple checks?" she said. "That's absurd."

Board attorney Richard "Spike" Fitzpatrick said that while Citrus is willing to accept the fingerprinting results of a vendor who has been screened, other districts have not been willing to share because of liability concerns.

"Once you give us that standard saying these are the disqualifying crimes, once you do that, this will work," he said. Argenziano told board members she would clarify that portion of the law but not without a warning.

"Realize now, that that removes your flexibility," she said.

For those who don't comply with the Lunsford Act, Argenziano issued a stern message.

"Guess what," she said, "you want your money next year, you're going to be doing it. It's for our kids' safety."

In other School Board news:

The next time you tune to WYKE-Ch. 47, expect to see some new faces.

School Board members agreed Tuesday to allow broadcasting of their regular meetings on the local public channel. A camera from the television station recorded the vote.

The decision to broadcast meetings on TV comes after years of debate about the benefits and concerns that the cameras would draw people with political agendas and others starved for media attention.

School Board meetings have been the only major governmental proceedings in the county not televised. County Commission meetings have been on the air for more than 15 years, and sessions of Citrus County Court and city council meetings in Inverness and Crystal River have been televised.

"This has been a long time coming, I have to say," Chairwoman Pat Deutschman said after the board unanimously agreed to air board meetings.

The school system will pay $45 for each hour of taping, and the meetings will be televised at least once a week. The district has set aside a $4,500 annual budget for the tapings.

A playful exchange among school officials ensued soon after Tom Franklin, the general manager of WYKE, noted "the amazing viewership" of governmental meetings.

Board attorney Fitzpatrick jokingly asked Franklin, "Will you bring the hair and makeup person?"

"Yes," superintendent Sandra "Sam" Himmel said. "She will be in my office every Tuesday before the meetings."

An unusually large crowd in attendance burst into laughter.

"You don't need that," Franklin noted. Then he added, "We'll bring the "thin' camera."

Eddy Ramirez can be reached at eramirez@sptimes.com or 860-7305.

[Last modified October 12, 2005, 00:18:12]