Senate Bill 23-217 Summary

• Removes the requirement that fees collected for background checks on child abuse and neglect reports support costs of the appeals process for persons found responsible in confirmed child abuse or neglect cases.

• Limits fees collected under the records and reports fund to only direct and indirect costs of administering specific information access provisions, rather than also funding appeals-related costs.

• Transfers funding responsibility for appeals process costs from the records and reports cash fund to general fund appropriations, with $1.018 million in appropriations added to the Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2023-24.

• Allows both the Department of Human Services and Department of Early Childhood to establish and collect the background check fees, with oversight by their respective boards and executive directors.

• Includes a safety clause declaring the act necessary for immediate preservation of public peace, health, or safety.