Under the National Child Protection Act of 1993, Public Law 103-209, 42 U.S.C. § 5119, et seq., the states are required to implement a computerized information system to provide child abuse crime information through the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Criminal History Record Information System and may conduct a nationwide criminal history background information check for the purpose of determining whether an individual who will have unsupervised access to children is suitable for employment or has been convicted of a crime that bears upon the fitness of the individual to teach or have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children as defined in this chapter.

The Legislature finds that there is a compelling state interest and it is in the best interest of the children of Alabama to protect them from those persons who may inflict physical or mental injury or abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation, or maltreatment or other mistreatment upon children. Therefore, in establishing the Alabama Child Protection Act of 1999, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide for the implementation of a system that allows the State Superintendent of Education, local boards of education, and other nonpublic schools to ensure that prospective employees and current employees are suitable for employment and have not been convicted of a crime that bears upon their fitness to teach or to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children as defined in this chapter.