The bill amends Section 40-13.2-5 of the General Laws concerning the certification of childcare and youth-serving workers and operators. It requires employees of child day care, daycare centers, family daycare homes, group family daycare homes, child-placing agencies, and residential childcare facilities that must be licensed by the department to undergo a comprehensive nationwide criminal records check. This check will be conducted by the bureau of criminal identification, local police departments, or the office of the attorney general, and the results will be provided to the applicant for employment.

Currently, any expenses associated with providing the criminal records check for existing employees must be paid by the applicant and/or the requesting agency. However, effective July 1, 2025, new applicants, defined as individuals who have submitted an application for employment to any agency or entity regulated by this section, will be exempt from the payment provisions. The nationwide criminal records check for these new applicants will be conducted at no charge.

The bill aims to enhance the clarity of the criminal records check process and the responsibilities of the involved entities while ensuring that financial barriers are reduced for individuals seeking employment in regulated childcare positions.

Statutes affected:
154: 40-13.2-5