The bill amends the existing child care licensing and regulation law in Michigan, specifically sections 5d and 5n of 1973 PA 116. It introduces new requirements for child care organizations regarding criminal history background checks for individuals before they can be offered employment or allowed to work in child care settings. The language changes include replacing "person" with "individual" throughout the text, emphasizing the need for criminal history checks using the department of state police's internet criminal history access tool (ICHAT) or equivalent checks. Additionally, the bill mandates that child care organizations shall not pass along the costs of these checks to applicants or employees, ensuring that the financial burden does not fall on individuals seeking employment in child care.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the procedures for conducting criminal history checks for individuals applying for or renewing licenses to operate child care facilities. It requires the department to review databases for previous disciplinary actions, conduct searches through the national sex offender registry, and request criminal history checks from the state police. The bill also stipulates that individuals who have resided outside the U.S. in the past five years must provide equivalent clearances from those countries, if available. Importantly, it establishes a process for individuals deemed ineligible due to criminal history to request a redetermination, ensuring that those with expunged records are not unfairly disqualified. Overall, the amendments aim to enhance the safety and regulatory standards of child care organizations in Michigan.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 722.115