The bill amends the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act to enhance the requirements for criminal history record searches for individuals involved in child care facilities. It mandates comprehensive background checks, including searches of the Oklahoma State Courts Network, Restricted Registry, and national criminal history records, particularly for individuals who have lived outside the state in the past five years. A national criminal history records search based on fingerprint submission is also required, with the costs borne by the individual or facility. The bill allows exceptions for volunteers who transport children irregularly, provided a release is signed by a parent or guardian, and establishes that individuals who refuse to consent to background checks or provide false information will be ineligible for employment or residence in child care facilities.

Additionally, the bill imposes stricter regulations on the employment of individuals required to register under the Sex Offenders Registration Act and those with substantiated abuse findings against children. It makes it unlawful for employers to knowingly hire or retain such individuals, with violators facing penalties including a Class D1 felony charge, potential incarceration, and fines up to $5,000. The bill also empowers the Department to take actions against employers who violate these regulations, including issuing emergency orders, revoking licenses, and imposing administrative penalties up to $10,000. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10-404.1