SB248 Alabama 2022 Session

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of child-care facilities by the Department of Human Resources. This bill would revise defined terms

This bill would require changes to existing rules of the department by revising requirements for child-care facility operators pertaining to advertising, employment qualification standards, recordkeeping standards, and data reporting standards for child-care facilities

Existing law provides that only one criminal history background information check is required on an individual regardless of subsequent changes in employment or licensing or approval status

This bill would provide that criminal history background checks and suitability determination letters from the Department of Human Resources for applicants, volunteers, or employees of a day care center are valid for five years, except that a new criminal investigation conducted after the check is completed or the suitability determination letter is issued shall cause the check and the suitability determination letter to become invalid

This bill would allow employees of child-care facilities to work extended shifts and would provide that evidence of certain criminal activities may not be considered against applicants for a license to operate a child-care facility or an applicant for employment at a child-care facility if a specified amount of time has elapsed since the criminal activities took place

This bill would require the Department of Human Resources to adopt rules pertaining to minimum standards for child-care facilities

This bill would also require the Department of Human Resources to adopt additional rules to implement and enforce its provisions

Relating to child-care facilities; to amend Section 38-7-2, Code of Alabama 1975, as amended by Act 2021-225, 2021 Regular Session, and Sections 38-7-3, 38-7-5, 38-7-7, 38-7-12, 38-7-13, 38-7-14, 38-7-20, and 38-13-4, Code of Alabama 1975; to add Section 38-7-22 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to revise defined terms; to require the Department of Human Resources to revise certain existing requirements for child-care facility operators pertaining to advertising and licensure; to revise certain employment qualification standards, recordkeeping standards, and data reporting standards for child-care facilities; to allow employees of child-care facilities to work extended shifts; to provide further for the requirement to receive a criminal history background check as a condition of employment with certain child-care and adult care facilities; to further provide for the issuance of a suitability determination letter; to require the Department of Human Resources to adopt certain rules; and to require the Department of Human Resources to adopt additional rules to implement and enforce its provisions.