SB 144 Summary

• Establishes comprehensive background check requirements for employees, volunteers, and contractors of Child-Serving Entities including DSCYF, public/private schools, child care providers, and youth camps using fingerprinted state and federal criminal background checks plus Child Protection Registry checks.

• Creates tiered employment prohibitions based on criminal convictions: lifetime ban for felonies involving physical or sexual assault against children/vulnerable persons; 10-year ban for assault crimes against other adults; 7-year ban for other felonies and misdemeanors against children.

• Allows private schools and youth camps to use name-based background checks through DELJIS instead of fingerprinting if they notify parents in writing that staff do not meet minimum background check safety requirements and obtain signed acknowledgments.

• Costs for background checks are borne by applicants except for child care providers receiving Federal Child Care Development Block Grant funds, whose costs are paid by the state; public schools may use non-state funds and form consortia to share costs.

• Consolidates and replaces prior background check provisions in Titles 11 and 31, establishes DSCYF and Department of Education regulatory authority, and creates penalties including class A misdemeanors and civil fines up to $5,000 for non-compliance.