Imagine wanting to volunteer at your child’s school, but a criminal record from years ago stands in the way. For many parents, this situation is a harsh reality. House Bill 1189 is working to change that by giving parents and guardians with past convictions a shot at helping out in schools — without the fear of being automatically shut out.

Right now, the rules are pretty strict: anyone who wants to volunteer in Washington schools, especially if they’ll be around kids or individuals with developmental disabilities, must go through a background check.