Oklahoma 2024 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB424 Amended / Bill

Filed 04/10/2023

                     
 
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION 
 
STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) 
 
ENGROSSED SENATE 
BILL NO. 424 	By: Pugh of the Senate 
 
  and 
 
  Miller of the House 
 
 
 
 
An Act relating to child care; amending 10 O.S. 2021, 
Section 404, which relates to m inimum requirements 
and desirable standards ; eliminating certain 
restriction on notice requirement; updating statutory 
language; amending 10 O.S. 2021, Section 404.1 , which 
relates to child care facility license; eliminating 
certain restriction on rule promulgation; updating 
statutory language; and providing an effe ctive date. 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     10 O.S. 2021, Section 404, is 
amended to read as follow s: 
Section 404. A.  1.  The Department of Human Services, in 
consultation with the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, 
shall appoint advisory committees of representatives of child care 
facilities and others to recommend minimum requirements and 
desirable standards for promulgation by the Department. 
2.  Committee member s shall be appointed for a three-year term, 
with a two-consecutive-term limit.  The committees shall include   
 
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representation for all categories of facilities licens ed by the 
Department and shall be comprised as follows: 
a. the Residential Children ’s Services subcommittee shall 
include at a minimum: 
(1) a representative of a statewide organization 
representing children in care arrangements 
outside their own home, 
(2) a representative of a statewide organization 
providing residential services to youth in state 
custody, 
(3) a recipient or former recipient of youth services 
for children in state custody, 
(4) a representative of a statewide organizatio n 
promoting adoption services, 
(5) a parent or guardian providing foster care to a 
child or children in state cust ody, 
(6) a representative from a nonpublic, long-term 
residential care facility for children in state 
custody, 
(7) a representative from an or ganization promoting 
the interests of Native American children in 
state custody, 
(8) a provider of medical service s for children, 
(9) a practicing behavioral health services provider,   
 
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(10) a representative from an agency providing child -
placing services, and 
(11) other appropriate representatives at the 
discretion of the Department of Human Services 
and Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, 
b. the Child Care Centers subcommittee shall include at a 
minimum: 
(1) a representative of a statewide organization 
advocating for children in care arrangements 
outside their own home, 
(2) a representative of a statewide organi zation 
conducting programs for school-age children, 
(3) a parent or guardian with a child attending a 
licensed child care facility, 
(4) a representative of a licensed child care 
facility in a rural area, 
(5) a representative of a statewide organization 
advocating for licensed child care facilities 
owned or operated by Native Americans, 
(6) a representative of a licensed child care 
facility in an urban/su burban area, 
(7) a representative of a statewide organization 
advocating for programs provided under the Head 
Start program,   
 
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(8) a representative with knowledge of child care 
programs offered by career technology center in 
this state, 
(9) a representative of a statewide organi zation 
advocating for early childhood education 
programs, 
(10) a representative of a statewide organization 
providing resources and referrals to child care 
facilities, 
(11) a provider of medical services for children, and 
(12) other appropriate representat ives at the 
discretion of the Department of Human Services 
and Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, 
c. the Child Care Homes subcommittee shall include at a 
minimum: 
(1) a representative of a statewide organization 
advocating for children in care arrangements 
outside their own home, 
(2) a parent or guardian with a child receiving car e 
at a licensed child care home, 
(3) a representative of a licensed child care home in 
a rural area,   
 
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(4) a representative of a statewide organization 
advocating for licensed child c are facilities 
owned or operated by Native Americans, 
(5) a representative of a licensed child care home in 
an urban/suburban area, 
(6) a representative of a statewide organization 
advocating for early childhood education 
programs, 
(7) a representative of a statewide organization 
providing resources and referrals to child care 
facilities, 
(8) a provider of medical services for children, and 
(9) other appropriate representatives at the 
discretion of the Department of Human Services 
and Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, 
and 
d. the Quality Rating and Improvement System subco mmittee 
shall include representatives of child care centers 
and child care homes currently licensed by the State 
state and other members as determined by the 
Department of Human Services and the Oklahoma 
Commission on Children and Youth. 
3.  The Department shall create a Child Care Facility Peer 
Review Board whose purpose shall be to participate in the   
 
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Department’s grievance process.  A majority of the Board shall be 
representatives of child care facilities.  The Director of the 
Department shall promulgate rules specifying the duties of the Child 
Care Facility Peer Review Board in the grievance process. 
4.  The advisory committee shall designate two people to serve 
on the Department’s Stars Administrative Review Panel.  At least one 
designee shall be the own er or operator of a licensed child care 
center. 
B.  Child care facilities shall not allow children to be left 
alone in the care of any person under eighteen (18) years of age 
without supervision or sixteen (16) years of age with supervision as 
delineated by the Department’s rules promulgated by the Director.  
Child care centers and family child care homes shall not: 
1.  Use soft or loose bedding, including, but not limited to, 
blankets, in sleeping equipment or in sleeping areas used only for 
infants; 
2.  Allow toys or educational devices in sleeping equipment or 
in a sleeping area used only for infants; or 
3.  Place a child in sleeping equipment or in a sleeping area 
which has not been previously approved for use as such by the 
Department. 
C.  The Director of the Department shall promulgate rules 
establishing minimum requirements and desirable standards as may be   
 
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deemed necessary or advisable to carry out the provisions of the 
Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act. 
D.  Such rules shall not be promulgated until after consultation 
with the State Department of Health, the State Department of 
Education, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the State 
Fire Marshal, the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, the 
Oklahoma Department of Mental Hea lth and Substance Abuse Services 
and any other agency deemed necessary by the Department.  Not less 
than sixty (60) days ’ notice, by regular mail, shall be given to all 
current licensees before any changes are made in such rules. 
E.  In order to improve th e standards of child care, the 
Department shall advise and cooperate with licensees, the governing 
bodies and staff of licensed child care facilities and assist the 
staff through advice of progressive methods and procedures, and 
suggestions for the improve ment of services. 
F.  The Department may participate i n federal programs for child 
care services, and enter into agreements or plans on behalf of the 
state for that purpose, in accordan ce with federal laws and 
regulations. 
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     10 O.S. 2021, Section 404.1, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 404.1. A.  On and after November 1, 2013:   
 
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1.  Prior to the issuance of a permit or li cense, owners and 
responsible entities making a request to estab lish or operate a 
child care facility shall have: 
a. an Oklahoma State Courts Network search conducted by 
the Department, 
b. a Restricted Registry search conducted by the 
facility, 
c. a national criminal history records search conducted 
pursuant to paragraph 10 of this subsection, 
d. a criminal history records and sex offender regi stry 
search conducted by an authorized sou rce, when the 
individual has lived outside this state within the 
last five (5) years, 
e. a search of the Department of Corrections ’ files 
maintained pursuant to th e Sex Offenders Registration 
Act and conducted by t he Department of Human Services, 
f. a search of any available child abuse and neglect 
registry within a state the i ndividual has resided in 
within the last five (5) years, 
g. search of the nontechnical ser vices worker abuse 
registry maintained by the State Department of Health 
pursuant to Section 1-1950.7 of Title 63 of the 
Oklahoma Statutes, and   
 
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h. a search of the community services worker registry 
maintained by the Department of Human Services 
pursuant to Section 1025.3 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes; 
2.  Prior to the employment of an individual: 
a. an Oklahoma State Courts Network search, conducted by 
the Department, shall be requested and received by the 
facility; provided however, if twenty-four (24) hours 
has passed from the time the request to t he Department 
was made, the facility may initiate employment, 
notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, 
b. a Restricted Registry search shall be conducted by the 
facility with notification of the s earch submitted to 
the Department, 
c. a national criminal history records search purs uant to 
paragraph 10 of this subsection shall be submitted, 
d. a criminal history records and sex offender registry 
search conducted by an author ized source, when the 
individual has lived outside this state within the 
last five (5) years, shall be submitt ed to the 
Department, 
e. a search of the Department of Corrections ’ files 
maintained pursuant to the Sex Offenders Registration   
 
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Act shall be conducted by the Department and received 
by the facility, 
f. a search of any available child abuse and neglect 
registry within a state the individual has resided in 
within the last five (5) years, 
g. search of the nontechnical services worker abuse 
registry maintained by the State Depar tment of Health 
pursuant to Section 1-1950.7 of Title 63 of the 
Oklahoma Statutes, and 
h. a search of the community services worker registry 
maintained by the Departm ent of Human Services 
pursuant to Section 1025.3 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes; 
3.  Prior to allowing unsupervised access to children by 
employees or individuals, including contract employees and 
volunteers and excluding the exceptions in paragraph 8 of this 
subsection: 
a. Oklahoma State Courts Network search re sults, 
conducted by the Department, shall be received by the 
facility, 
b. a Child Care child care Restricted Registry search 
shall be conducted by the facility with notification 
of the search submitted t o the Department,   
 
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c. national criminal history records search re sults 
pursuant to paragraph 10 of this subsection shall be 
received by the facility, 
d. a criminal history records and sex offender registry 
search conducted by an authorized source, when the 
individual has lived outside this state within the 
last five (5) years shall be submitted to the 
Department, 
e. a search of the Department of Corrections’ files 
maintained pursuant to the Sex Offenders Registration 
Act shall be conducted by the Department and received 
by the facility, 
f. a search of any available child abuse and neglect 
registry within a state the individual has resided in 
within the last five (5) y ears, 
g. search of the nontechnical services worker abuse 
registry maintained by the State De partment of Health 
pursuant to Section 1-1950.7 of Title 63 of t he 
Oklahoma Statutes, and 
h. a search of the community services worker regist ry 
maintained by the Department of Human Services 
pursuant to Section 1025.3 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes;   
 
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4.  Prior to the issuance of a permit or license and prior to 
the residence of adults who subsequently move into a facility, 
adults living in the facility excluding the exception in paragraph 7 
of this subsection shall have: 
a. an Oklahoma State Courts Net work search conducted by 
the Department and the facility shall b e in receipt of 
the search results, 
b. a Restricted Registry search conducted by the facility 
with notification of the search submitted to the 
Department, 
c. a national criminal history record s search conducted 
pursuant to paragraph 10 of this subsection, 
d. a criminal history records and sex offender registry 
search conducted by a n authorized source, when the 
individual has lived outside this state within the 
last five (5) years, 
e. a search of the Department of Corrections’ files 
maintained pursuant to th e Sex Offenders Registration 
Act conducted by the Department and received by the 
facility, 
f. a search of any available child abuse and neglect 
registry within a state the individual has resid ed in 
within the last five (5) years,   
 
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g. search of the nontechni cal services worker abuse 
registry maintained by the State Department of Heal th 
pursuant to Section 1-1950.7 of Title 63 of the 
Oklahoma Statutes, and 
h. a search of the community services wor ker registry 
maintained by the Department of Human Services 
pursuant to Section 1025.3 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes; 
5.  Children who reside in the facility and turn eighteen (18) 
years of age excluding the exception in paragraph 7 of this 
subsection shall have: 
a. an Oklahoma State Courts Network search conduc ted by 
the Department, 
b. a Restricted Registry search conducted by the facil ity 
with notification of the search submitted to the 
Department, 
c. a national criminal history records search cond ucted 
pursuant to paragraph 10 of this subsection, and 
d. a search of the Department of Corrections’ files 
pursuant to the Sex Offenders Regi stration Act 
conducted by the Department and received by the 
facility; 
6.  Prior to review of or access to fingerpr int results, owners, 
responsible entities, directors, and other individuals who have   
 
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review of or access to fingerprint results shall have a national 
criminal history records search pursuant to paragraph 10 of this 
subsection; 
7.  Provisions specified in p aragraphs 4 and 5 of this 
subsection shall not apply to resident s who are receiving services 
from a residential child care facility; 
8.  A national criminal history records search pursuant to 
paragraph 10 of this subsection shall not be required for volunt eers 
who transport children on an irregular basis when a release is 
signed by the parent or legal guardian noting their understanding 
that the volunteer does not have a completed national criminal 
history records search .  The provisions in paragraph 3 of t his 
subsection shall not be required for specialized service 
professionals who are not employed by the program and have 
unsupervised access t o a child when a release is signed by the 
parent or legal guardian noting his or her understanding of this 
exception.  These exceptions shall not preclude the Department from 
requesting a national fingerprint or an Oklahoma State Bureau of 
Investigation name-based criminal history records search or 
investigating criminal, abusive, or harmful behavior of such 
individuals, if warranted; 
9.  A national criminal history records search pursuant to 
paragraph 10 of this subsection shall be required on or before 
November 1, 2016, for existing owners, responsible entities,   
 
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employees, individuals with unsupervised access to child ren, and 
adults living in the facility, as of November 1, 2013, unless 
paragraph 6 of this subsection applies; 
10.  The Department shall requ ire a national criminal history 
records search based upon submission of fingerprints that shall: 
a. be conducted by the Oklahoma State Bureau of 
Investigation and the Federal Bure au of Investigation 
pursuant to Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes and the federal National Child Protection Act 
and the federal Volunteers for Children Act with the 
Department as the authorized agency, 
b. be submitted and have results rece ived between the 
Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of 
Investigation through secure electronic transmissions, 
c. include Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation rap 
back Rap Back, requiring the Oklahoma State Bureau of 
Investigation to immediately notify the D epartment 
upon receipt of subsequent criminal history activity, 
and 
d. be paid by the individual or the facility; 
11.  The Director of the Department, or designee, shall 
promulgate rules that may authorize an exception to the 
fingerprinting requirements fo r individuals who have a severe   
 
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physical condition which precludes such i ndividuals from being 
fingerprinted; 
12.  The Director of the Department, or designee, shall 
promulgate rules that ensure individuals obtain a criminal history 
records search, not to include the re-submission of fingerprints, 
not less than once during eac h five (5) year period; 
13.  Any individual who refuses to consent to the criminal 
background check or knowingly mak es a materially-false statement in 
connection with such criminal bac kground check shall be ineligible 
for ownership of, employment of or re sidence in a child care 
facility; and 
14.  The Office of Juvenile Affairs shall require national 
criminal history rec ords searches, as defined by Section 150.9 of 
Title 74 of the Oklaho ma Statutes, which shall be provided by the 
Oklahoma State Bureau of I nvestigation for the purpose of obtaining 
the national criminal history records search, including Rap Back 
notification of and through direct request by the Office of Juvenile 
Affairs on behalf of any: 
a. operator or responsible entity making a request to 
establish or operate a secure detention center, 
municipal juvenile facility, community intervention 
center or secure facility licensed or certified by the 
Office of Juvenile Affairs,   
 
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b. employee or applicant of a secure detention center, 
municipal juvenile facility, community intervention 
center or secure facility licensed or certified by the 
Office of Juvenile Affairs, o r 
c. persons allowed unsupervised access to children, 
including contract employees or volunteers, of a 
secure detention center, municip al juvenile facility, 
community intervention center or secure facility 
licensed or certified by the Office of Juvenile 
Affairs. 
B. 1. a. On and after September 1, 1998: 
(1) any child-placing agency contracting with a 
person for foster family home servic es or in any 
manner for services for the care and supervision 
of children shall also, prior to executing a 
contract, complete: 
(a) a foster parent eligibility assessment for 
the foster care provider except as otherwise 
provided by divisions (2) and (4) of this 
subparagraph, and 
(b) a national criminal history records search 
based upon submission of fingerprints for 
any adult residing in the foster family home 
through the Department of Human Se rvices   
 
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pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-7-
106 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, 
except as otherwise provided by divisions 
(2) and (4) of this subparagraph, 
(2) the child-placing agency may place a child 
pending completion of the national crimin al 
history records search if the foster care 
provider and every adult residing in the foster 
family home has resided in this state for at 
least five (5) years immediately preceding such 
placement, 
(3) a national criminal history records search based 
upon submission of fingerprints to the Oklahoma 
State Bureau of Investigation shall also be 
completed for any adult who subsequently moves 
into the foster family home, 
(4) provided, however, the Director of Human Services 
or the Director of the Office of Juvenil e 
Affairs, or a designee, may authorize an 
exception to the fingerprinting requirement for a 
person residing in the home who has a severe 
physical condition which precludes such person ’s 
being fingerprinted, and   
 
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(5) any child care facility contracting with any 
person for foster family home services shall 
request the Office of Juvenile Affairs to conduct 
a juvenile justice information system review, 
pursuant to the provisions of Sections 2 -7-905 
and 2-7-308 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma 
Statutes, for any chil d over the age of thirteen 
(13) years residing in the foste r family home, 
other than a foster child, or who subsequently 
moves into the foster family home .  As a 
condition of contract, the child care facility 
shall obtain the consent of the parent or legal 
guardian of the child for such review. 
b. The provisions of this paragraph sh all not apply to 
foster care providers having a contract or contracting 
with a child-placing agency, the Depart ment of Human 
Services or the Office of Juvenile Affairs prior to 
September 1, 1998.  Such existing foster care 
providers shall comply with the p rovisions of this 
section, until otherwise provided by rules of the 
Department promulgated by the Director or by law. 
2.  a. (1) On and after September 1, 1998, except as 
otherwise provided in di visions (2) and (4) of 
this subparagraph, prior to contracting with a   
 
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foster family home for placement of any child who 
is in the custody of the Department of Human 
Services or the Office of Juvenile Affairs, each 
Department shall complete a foster parent 
eligibility assessment, pursuant to the 
provisions of the Okla homa Child Care Facilities 
Licensing Act, for such foster family applicant .  
In addition, except as otherwise provided by 
divisions (2) and (4) of this subparagraph, the 
Department shall complet e a national criminal 
history records search based upon submis sion of 
fingerprints for any adult residing in such 
foster family home. 
(2) The Department of Human Services and Office of 
Juvenile Affairs may place a child pending 
completion of the national c riminal history 
records search if the foster care provider and 
every adult residing in the foster family home 
has resided in this state for at least five (5) 
years immediately preceding such placement. 
(3) A national criminal history records search based 
upon submission of fingerprints conducted by the 
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation shall also   
 
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be completed for any adult who subsequently moves 
into the foster family home. 
(4) The Director of Human Services or the Director of 
the Office of Juvenile Af fairs or their designee 
may authorize an exception to the fing erprinting 
requirement for any person residing in the home 
who has a severe physical condition which 
precludes such person’s being fingerprinted. 
b. The provisions of this paragraph shall not ap ply to 
foster care providers having a contract or contracting 
with a child-placing agency, the Department of Human 
Services or the Office of Juvenile Affairs prior to 
September 1, 1998.  Such existing foster care 
providers shall comply with the provisions of this 
section, until otherwise provided by rules of the 
Department promulgated by the Director or by law. 
3.  The Department of Human Services or the Office of Juvenile 
Affairs shall provide for a juvenile justice information system 
review pursuant to Se ction 2-7-308 of Title 10A of the Oklaho ma 
Statutes for any child over the age of thirteen ( 13) years residing 
in a foster family home, other than the foster child, or who 
subsequently moves into the foster family home. 
C.  The Director of the Department or the Board of Juvenile 
Affairs shall promulgate rules t o identify circumstances when a   
 
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criminal history records search or foster parent eligibility 
assessment for an appl icant or contractor, or any person over the 
age of thirteen (13) years residing in a private residence in which 
a child care facility is loca ted, shall be expanded beyond the 
records search conducted by the Oklahoma State Bureau of 
Investigation or as othe rwise provided pursuant to this section. 
D.  Except as otherwise provided by the Okla homa Children’s Code 
and subsection F of this section, a conviction for a crime shall not 
be an absolute bar to employment, but shall be considered in 
relation to specific employment duties and responsibilities. 
E.  1.  Information received pursuant to thi s section by an 
owner, administrator, or responsible ent ity of a child care 
facility, shall be maintained in a confidential manner pursuant to 
applicable state and federal laws. 
2.  The information, along with any other information relevant 
to the ability of the individual to perform tasks that require 
direct contact with children, may be released to another child care 
facility in response to a request from the child care f acility that 
is considering employing or contracting with the individual unless 
deemed confidential by state and federal laws. 
3.  Requirements for confidentiality and recordkeeping with 
regard to the information shall be the same for the child care 
facility receiving the information in response to a request as those   
 
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provided for in paragr aph 1 of this subsection for the child care 
facility releasing such information. 
4.  Information received by any facility certified by the Office 
of Juvenile Affairs may b e released to another facility certified by 
the Office if an individual is being cons idered for employment or 
contract, along with any other relevant information, unless the 
information is deemed confidential by state or federal law .  Any 
information received by the Office shall be maintained in a 
confidential manner pursuant to applicable state and federal law. 
F.  1.  It shall be unlawful for individuals who are required to 
register pursuant to the Sex Offenders Registration Act to work with 
or provide services to children or to reside in a child care 
facility and for any employer who off ers or provides services to 
children to knowingly and wi llfully employ or contract with, or 
allow continued employment of or contracting with individuals who 
are required to register pursuant to the Sex Offenders Registration 
Act.  Individuals required to register pursuant to the Sex Offenders 
Registration Act who violate any provision of Section 401 et s eq. of 
this title shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punish able 
by incarceration in a correctional facility for a period of not more 
than five (5) years and a fine of not more than Five Thousand 
Dollars ($5,000.00) or both such fine and imprison ment. 
2.  It shall be unlawful for an individual who is the 
perpetrator of a substantiated finding by the Department of heinous   
 
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and shocking abuse by a per son responsible for a child’s health, 
safety, or welfare, as those terms are defined in Section 1 -1-105 of 
Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, to work with or provide serv ices 
to children or to reside in a child care facility and for any 
employer who offers or provides services to children to knowingly 
and willfully employ or contract with, or allow cont inued employment 
of or contracting with such individual. 
3. Upon a determination by the Department of any violation of 
the provisions of this section, the violator shall be subject to and 
the Department may purs ue: 
a. an emergency order, 
b. license revocation or denial, 
c. injunctive proceedings, 
d. an administrative penalty not to exceed Ten Thousand 
Dollars ($10,000.00), and 
e. referral for criminal procee dings. 
4.  In addition to the penalties specified by thi s section, the 
violator may be liable for civil damages. 
SECTION 3.  This act shall become effectiv e November 1, 2023. 
 
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY 
SERVICES, dated 04/06/2023 - DO PASS.