TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey state lawmakers want to prevent serious criminals from serving on public school boards, and they advanced a bill on Monday to bar those convicted of first- or second-degree crimes.

Identical bills introduced in the state House and Senate would bar anyone from serving on a public school board if they have certain disqualifying convictions, including endangering the welfare of a child, drug possession, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, stalking, kidnapping, arson, manslaughter, murder and several other crimes, the Observer reports.

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“School board members are the guardians of our children’s education and must lead by example,” Assembly Speaker Vice Prieto said after a committee approved the bill Monday. “This bill will ensure that convicted criminals are not elected to these posts while also ensuring that taxpayers’ time and money are not wasted should they attempt to run.”

The legislation is aimed at preventing people like Nilesh Dasondi from gaining control of public affairs and important decisions in New Jersey school districts.

Dasondi dropped out of the school board race in the Edison school district about two months before the general election when the state’s Board of Education ruled that his 2009 conviction for immigration fraud prevented him from serving on the board, NJ.com reports.

“After serving his six months in prison, he had to pay a $50,000 fine, and then had to repay $296,921.86 in restitution. He served two years probation after his release,” according to the news site.

Dasondi’s crime involved using his company, Cygate Software, as part of a $850,000 immigration scam to obtain fake work visas and green cards for people who were not his employees.

“In New Jersey, a money laundering conviction involving more than $75,000 is considered a second-degree felony, under which Dasondi’s plea deal fell,” NJ.com reports.

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The New Jersey legislation to block school board criminals currently awaits a vote of the full assembly.

“Men and women who seek election to school boards are ultimately responsible for the education, safety, health and welfare of our children,” Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, the bill’s sponsor, wrote in a recent statement. “Protecting our students and setting good examples is our top priority, which makes it crucial that we preserve the sanctity of our school boards.”

Sen. Patrick Diegnan sponsored the same bill in the Senate, though the status of that measure is unclear.