Whereas, under this legislation, background checks and fingerprinting are required only for newly hired educational personnel; and

Whereas, it is imperative that this change be effectuated prior to the beginning of the new school year; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6101, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 1995, c. 547, §4, is further amended to read:

B. Except as provided in paragraph A, information in any form relating to an employee or applicant for employment, or to the employee's immediate family, must be kept confidential if it relates to the following:

(1) All information, working papers and examinations used in the examination or evaluation of all applicants for employment;

(2) Medical information of any kind, including information pertaining to diagnosis or treatment of mental or emotional disorders;

(3) Performance evaluations, personal references and other reports and evaluations reflecting on the quality or adequacy of the employee's work or general character compiled and maintained for employment purposes;

(4) Credit information;

(5) Except as provided by subsection 1, the personal history, general character or conduct of the employee or any member of the employee's immediate family;

(6) Complaints, charges of misconduct, replies to complaints and charges of misconduct and memoranda and other materials pertaining to disciplinary action;