Virginia Senator to Bring Back Expanded Background Check Bill

“It’s coming back,” said Virginia Senator Joe Manchin Tuesday about his bipartisan bill to expand background checks on gun sales, a bill which failed to pass on its first run through the Senate last month. [more]

HOUSTON - Members of the National Rifle Association were assured that they would never have to surrender their firearms. Along with this statement they were told that the fight against government gun control is far [more]

Senate Rejects Expanded Gun Background Checks

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans backed by a small band of rural-state Democrats scuttled the most far-reaching gun control legislation in two decades Wednesday, rejecting tighter background checks for buyers and a ban on assault weapons [more]

Day of Reckoning for Expanded Background Checks

D-Day: Today, consideration of the Manchin-Toomey background check proposal and a myriad other gun amendments, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity clips, will be the main event on Capitol Hill. The outcome of [more]

Deal Reached on Gun Background Check Bill

WASHINGTON - Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. announced that they have reached a compromise bill on Wednesday that expands background checks on gun purchases, and possibly paving the way for votes [more]

Both Gun Control Parties Make Public Appeal

WASHINGTON — Two of the loudest voices in the gun debate say it’s up to voters now to make their position known to Congress. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and National Rifle Associate Executive Vice President [more]

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New Background Check Bill Passed for Safer Mentoring Programs

Mentor Background Check

Passed and written by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) and passed today, House bill (2012-H7077)will make national and state criminal background check a requirement for anybody participating or applying to join in any mentoring program that involves working with students and kids.

State law already requires background checks for individuals seeking employment with a private school or public school department, “and this legislation simply expands the scope of that law to include others who will have direct and regular contact with young people, in school settings or other mentoring situations,” said Representative McNamara, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare.

“As programs such as these grow in school settings, adding this language to law is the safe and responsible thing to do” Rep. Joseph M. McNamara said.

The bill was introduced at the recommendation of the Rhode Island Mentoring Program, a non-profit organization that provides training and support for mentoring agencies in the state. The group operates the Feinstein Mentor Training Institute and one-on-one school-based mentoring programs in Warwick, Woonsocket and on Aquidneck Island.

Status
View latest bill text (Draft #1) [PDF]
February 15 2012 – House read and passed

Summary

An Act Relating To Education – School Committees And Superintendents (individuals Seeking To Participate In Any Mentoring Prog. Whereby The Individual Would Be Working With Student(s) In A Mentoring Situation Would Be Required To Undergo A Criminal Background Check Similar To Other Employees In A Public Or Private School.)