Washington Democrats, led by Representative Tarra Simmons (D-Bremerton), an ex-convict, are proposing legislation that would permit convicted felons to volunteer in public schools. This initiative comes after Democratic lawmakers recently rejected an amendment requiring schools to notify parents if their child was a victim of sexual assault.
Under current law, prospective volunteers must undergo a background check that typically flags criminal convictions. House Bill 1189, sponsored by Simmons, would require school districts to inform applicants about the option to submit proof of rehabilitation. If an applicant demonstrates rehabilitation and has no new convictions, school districts cannot automatically deny them based on their record. Even without proof of rehabilitation, districts would still assess factors such as the nature of the conviction, the time elapsed, and whether the individual would have unsupervised access to minors.
If passed, educational institutions would have five days to notify applicants of their decision, provide explanations for rejections, and outline an appeal process through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Some Washington school districts already allow individuals with criminal records to teach. Seattle’s Chief Sealth High School employed Ian Golash, who has multiple past arrests in Oregon, including for assault and parole violations. Golash, currently on paid administrative leave, has faced backlash for supporting Hamas and denying the Oct 7 attacks on social media.
The bill is co-sponsored by State Democratic Representatives Lillian Ortiz-Self, Nicole Macri, Strom Peterson, Lauren Davis, Timm Ormsby, Monica Stonier, and Natasha Hill. Nevada lawmaker Jovan Jackson, also an ex-convict, testified in support of the bill before the Senate Law and Justice Committee, which will vote on it on February 6.
Meanwhile, Democrats in the Washington House of Representatives voted against an amendment to House Bill 1296, which would have mandated that school districts notify parents if their child was sexually victimized by a school employee. Republican Representative Travis Couture, who proposed the amendment, criticized the rejection, stating on X, “How any sane person could deny my amendment is outrageous.”
The proposed legislation is part of an effort by the Democrat-controlled Legislature to weaken Initiative 2081, known as the Parental Rights Initiative. This initiative guarantees parental rights to review educational materials, receive notifications on their child’s health, and opt out of sexual health education. Democrats have attempted to challenge and dismantle this initiative both legislatively and in court.