This bill amends the Child Care Licensing Act in Nebraska to enhance the requirements for background checks and improve the complaint tracking system for licensed child care providers. Key provisions include the requirement for national criminal history record checks for all child care staff members, including volunteers, and the establishment of a complaint tracking system that identifies licensing violations from various investigations. The bill also allows volunteers to be included in staff-to-child ratios under certain conditions, such as undergoing background checks and being supervised by qualified individuals. Additionally, it prohibits political subdivisions from imposing residency requirements on family child care homes.

The bill introduces a termination date of December 31, 2028, for certain provisions related to volunteer staff in child care settings. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining safety and quality in child care programs by ensuring that all staff members, including volunteers, meet specific qualifications and undergo thorough background checks. The Department of Health and Human Services is tasked with implementing these changes and ensuring compliance with the new regulations. The original sections of the law that are being amended are also repealed to reflect these updates.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-1908, 71-1912, 71-1918