State Rep. Matthew Baker, R-Bradford and Tioga , will propose a bill to the state legislature Monday that would require background checks for all new faculty hires in Pennsylvania community colleges, colleges and universities.

Baker said the College and University Criminal History Record Act (CUCHRA) requires applicants to private and public schools to obtain a state and federal background check before being hired. The bill would require all applicants to submit fingerprints to the FBI, pay for a federal background check and pay $10 for a Pennsylvania State Police background check.

"All crimes would be assessed, but it is up to the university to decide the influence of the check," he said. "If an individual has a misdemeanor, it may not have an impact, but a felony should have a bearing. The legislation will not prohibit hiring but will merely allow information to be brought before personnel."

Baker said the discovery of former Penn State professor Paul Eric Krueger's murder conviction was a significant reason to introduce the bill. Krueger was convicted of murdering three fishermen near Corpus Christi, Texas in 1966. He was awarded parole in 1979, obtained four degrees and was hired by Penn State in 1999. He resigned in August.

Penn State announced earlier this week it is altering a recently approved policy requiring background checks for all prospective faculty members. Unlike the CUCHRA, Penn State's policy requires only finalists to undergo background checks and only serious crimes to be reported.

"PSU is moving in the right direction," Baker said. "I've looked at Penn State's policy, and I applaud it. I will be in discussion with administrators to determine any refinements [to my proposal]."

University administrators are concerned that requiring a background check for all applicants would be intrusive and scare applicants.

"We hope that we can convince the legislators that our more limited policy would do all that is necessary for background checks and that the state policy would frighten off most of our applicants," Robert Secor, vice provost of academic affairs, wrote in an e-mail message. "Our goal in designing the policy is to make it the least intrusive it can be for applicants while still satisfying the need (and pressure) for accountability."

Baker said he doesn't think the act will be intrusive.

"When you work in a public arena, the public -- especially employers -- have a right to know whom they are hiring," he said. "It makes sense to protect students, faculty and staff."

Currently, candidates for elementary and secondary education positions are required to agree to background checks. Baker said extending this requirement to professors would be consistent.

Gregg Roeber, head of the history and religious studies departments at Penn State, expressed concern about the new bill.

"This bill is even more broad ranging than [Penn State's policy]," Roeber said. "This has interesting implications on faculty hiring."

Carol Walker, a Penn State admissions counselor, said she didn't know if faculty background checks would be a concern for parents.

However, some students, such as Leah Budin (freshman-journalism and visual arts), believe adding these checks would be beneficial to the university.

"It would definitely be good to know a faculty member's history," she said. "It's a much safer step to look into a person's history in order to protect the community."

Meredith Levine (freshman-biobehavioral health) said she was surprised it wasn't already mandatory.

"It would be a very positive step, but administrators shouldn't overdo it," she said.