Mass. Bill Would Require Fingerprinting Teachers

Teachers, workers at child care centers, school bus drivers and others could soon be required to submit fingerprints for criminal background checks.

Asked on Tuesday if he would sign the legislation, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said "I think so."

The fingerprint background checks would also apply to everyone seeking to adopt children or become foster parents as well as employees of school departments who may have direct, unmonitored contact with children.

Under the bill, the fingerprints will be submitted to the state police for a state criminal history check and forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history check.

Lawmaker approval of the measure came just weeks after authorities announced an indictment against a convicted sex offender they say videotaped himself sexually assaulting children from his wife's unlicensed day care business.