SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2541 
'14 
DEC 22 P 4 :15 
___ 
"e. ,.:\., .. ', jltJ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill requires that National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) background checks 
be conducted on prospective employees and that the results of the checks be reviewed by 
the hiring administrator before any offer of employment can be made. This bill will help 
school officials to effectively identify sexual predators during the employment 
application process. 
In the event that the background check identifies a sexual predator seeking 
employment with a public school or a school district, the bill mandates that the individual 
be reported to local law enforcement. 
Further, the bill bars individuals with drunk driving convictions, or convictions 
relating to reckless imprudence involving vehicular accidents, or other serious traffic 
offenses, from being employed as bus drivers or in other roles that involves the 
transportation of children. 
1 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2541 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
~Acr 
2 
TO REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND THOSE EMPLOYED IN 
3 
CONNEC11ON WITH A PUBLIC SCHOOL TO RECEIVE NBl BACKGROUND 
4 
CHECKS PR[OR TO BEING HIRED 
5 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shaH be known as the "Safety for Our 
6 
Schoolchildren Act." 
7 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act: 
8 
(a) "Drunk driving" means driving while intoxicated or driving under the 
9 
inl1uence of alcohol. 
10 
(b) "Public school" means an educational institution that receives funds from the 
11 
Department of Education; 
12 
( c) "School employee" means an employee who works in a public school or has a 
13 
job duty that results in exposure to students, including administrators, teachers, 
14 
substitute teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and school bus drivers; and 
15 
an employee of a company, or a subsidiary of a company, that has a contract 
16 
with a public school, who works in a public school or has a job duty that 
17 
results in exposure to students. 
18 
(d) "Sexual Predator" means an individual 18 years of age or older who has been 
19 
convicted of~ or has pleaded guilty to, a sexual offense against a minor. 
1 


1 
(e) "Sexual offense" means the following crimes as defined under the Penal Code: 
2 
Rape; Acts of lasciviousness; Qualified seduction; Simple seduction; Acts of 
3 
lasciviousness with the consent of the offended party; Corruption of minors; 
4 
White slave trade. 
5 
SECTION 3. Background Checks/or Public School Employees.-
6 
(a) In General. - A public school shall obtain a National Bureau of Investigation 
7 
(NBI) background check on an individual prior to making an offer of employment as a 
8 
school employee. 
9 
(b) Reporting Sexual Predator. - A public school that receives information from 
10 
an NBI background check that an individual who has applied for employment with such 
11 
school as a school employee is a sexual predator shall report to local law enforcement 
12 
that such individual has so applied. 
13 
(c) Transportation. - A public school may not make an offer of employment to an 
14 
individual for a position as a school bus driver if such individual has been convicted of. 
15 
or has pleaded guilty to, an offense under the Penal Code, Article 365 that involves a 
16 
vehicular accident, or drunk driving, or any serious traffic offenses. 
17 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
18 
unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and 
19 
effect. 
20 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
21 
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
22 
SECTION 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
23 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/!1dpdec20 14 
2