(a) Each local employing board and other public educational entity required to obtain criminal history background information checks of current public certified employees and current public noncertified employees pursuant to this article shall cooperate with the State Department of Education in obtaining two complete acceptable sets of fingerprints and written consent from each current employee who has or seeks to have unsupervised access to a child or children.

(b)(1) Each local employing board and other public educational entity shall, upon request, submit the following items to the State Department of Education for each current public certified employee and current public noncertified employee:

a. Two functional acceptable fingerprint cards, bearing the fingerprints of the individual, properly executed by an individual properly trained in fingerprinting techniques.

b. Written consent authorizing the release of any criminal history background information to the State Department of Education.

c. Acknowledgment that the current public certified employee or current public noncertified employee received notice that the State Superintendent of Education will provide a suitability determination, based upon criminal history information reports and suitability criteria for public employment, to the current public certified employee, current public noncertified employee, and local employing board.

(2) When a local employing board or other public authorized employer sends the items listed in subdivision (1) to the State Department of Education, the State Department of Education shall record receipt of the items and forward them to the Department of Public Safety to request a criminal history background information check.

(c) Fingerprints of individuals subject to this chapter may be obtained by the State Department of Education through the use of digital fingerprint machines, if available, or by any other appropriate means. Fingerprinting of current employees shall be conducted at locations that are convenient to current employees, during reasonable business hours, and at no charge to the current employee. For purposes of this section, convenient locations for fingerprinting current employees include, but are not limited to, central education offices and other education facilities. Mobile units may be utilized at these locations. Fingerprinting of current employees may not be conducted at a criminal justice agency or law enforcement or correctional office or facility.