IL SB0869

Removes exemption that previously allowed relatives of children to bypass criminal history record checks when receiving child care assistance program funds.

Requires all unlicensed child care providers receiving child care assistance funds to authorize written State and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint-based criminal history record checks as a condition of program eligibility.

Authorizes the Department of Children and Family Services to conduct periodic Central Register investigations to determine if providers have been found to be perpetrators in indicated child abuse or neglect reports.

Directs the Department to establish rules for disqualifying unlicensed providers based on indicated child abuse/neglect findings or disqualifying criminal convictions, considering offense severity, time elapsed, and relevance to child care responsibilities.

Effective date: January 1, 2018.