Committee recommends fingerprint clearances for traffic‑school instructors

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved House Bill 2916 to require fingerprint clearance cards for instructors employed or contracted by traffic‑survival schools. Supporters said the change restores a safety rule ADOT had previously included in rules but could not enforce without express statutory authority.

A sponsor representative said the change was motivated by an incident in which an instructor visited students’ homes; witnesses and proponents said instructors handle sensitive information including names and addresses and that fingerprint clearances add a layer of protection. The sponsor said a delayed effective date floor amendment is being prepared to align state implementation with federal background‑check capacity.

The committee moved the bill and gave a due‑pass recommendation; no roll‑call tally disputing the recommendation was recorded in the hearing transcript.