NE LB959

Department of Health and Human Services must create a youth afterschool credential for 16-17 year olds seeking employment in school-age child care programs or temporary nonresidential child care programs

Youth credential requires completion of registry checks (child abuse/neglect, sex offender), background check documentation, and a minimum 7-hour new staff orientation for school-age programs

Youth applicants may work provisionally while background checks are pending, but cannot be left alone with children or counted in staff-to-child ratios

Department must establish an adult eligibility passport for individuals 18+ that provides portability of background check requirements between licensed child care programs and approved youth-serving programs

Both credentials are valid for one year, renewable through an expedited process, and the department may charge fees not exceeding administrative costs