PHOENIX ÷ A bill calling for the immediate firing of convicted murderers and child molesters working as faculty in Arizona's universities squeaked out of committee with amendments Wednesday.
An accompanying bill that requires university applicants to pass criminal background checks and get fingerprint clearance cards from the Arizona Department of Public Safety was held.
Sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, the faculty felons bill passed by a single vote, drawing complaints from lawmakers who felt it violated due process.
Biggs promised to withdraw the bill if the Arizona Board of Regents drafted its own policy.
"I'd rather see this as policy than statute," Biggs said. "But I do think this bill needs to keep moving to serve as a gentle reminder that action must be taken by the board of regents."
The amended bill would terminate faculty convicted of murder, kidnapping, sexual exploitation of children, stalking and sexual offenses. Originally, assault and burglary charges were included in the list.
"The particular felonies since the amendment would be the most severe felonies. We are talking about child predators, sexual molesters and those who commit murder," Biggs said. "Those who have to register as sex offenders for lifetime probably ought not to be on a university campus working with our young people."
Kathy McGonigle, spokeswoman for the board, said the regents are drafting a policy they plan to discuss and adopt when they meet in April.
"You should be assured that the board and the university presidents share Rep. Biggs' concerns on the safety of the campus and the caliber of individuals we employ at the university," McGonigle said.
The board's major concern is maintaining an element of due process in the procedures, McGonigle said.
When asked how likely it is that there are violent felons on university faculty, Biggs said it's impossible to be sure because of the UA's lax criminal screening practices.
"It just takes one serious incident to happen, as a result of failure to have a policy in place, that destroys someone's life or their family," Biggs said.