BILL NUMBER: S7784

SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to the fingerprint-
ing of prospective employees of child day care centers

 
PURPOSE:

To allow the State Education Department (SED) to share the background
check results of individuals who have had their fingerprints taken by
SED and who are applying for employment at child day care centers or
school age child care providers

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the social services law to exempt child day care
centers and school age child care providers from the requirement that
they obtain a prospective employee's fingerprints when SED has already
forwarded them to the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).

              

Section two amends the social services law to authorize SED to forward a
copy of a prospective employee's fingerprints and criminal history
record to the Commissioner of OCFS.

Section three is the effective date

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Currently, an individual who applies for employment at a child day care
center or school age child care provider must provide the employer with
his or her fingerprints for a background check, any applicants are
teachers or school employees who seek other employment during their
school's summer vacation. As such, they have already had a background
check completed when they provided SED with fingerprints for their
primary employment.

Removing this requirement would reduce administrative costs for provid-
ers and would save the Division of Criminal Justice Services the cost of
conducting unnecessary, duplicative background checks. In addition to
the potential savings in administrative costs, this legislation would
lead to a decrease in waiting time for applicants to begin their employ-
ment.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: A26 referred to Children and Families

2019-20: A3559 referred to Children and Families

2017-18: A436 referred to Children and Families

2015-16: A1845 referred to Children and Families

2013-14: A9031 referred to Children and Families

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Administrative savings to providers and state agencies.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.