Texas Senate Bill SB1153

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to background and criminal history checks for operators and employees of certain child-care facilities.

Impact

If enacted, SB1153 will have significant implications for child-care facilities in the state. The new rules will necessitate compliance from all facilities that employ individuals in direct contact with children, potentially raising operational costs due to the need for comprehensive background checks. This measure is part of a broader effort to safeguard children's welfare in day-care settings by ensuring that all personnel have been vetted for any past criminal activities that could pose a risk to child safety.

Summary

SB1153 is a legislative proposal focusing on enhancing the safety protocols for child-care facilities by mandating background and criminal history checks for operators and employees. It aims to amend certain sections of the Human Resources Code, specifically relating to the processes through which these checks are conducted. The bill emphasizes the requirement for submitting a complete set of fingerprints, which will aid in thorough state and federal criminal checks, thus aiming to ensure that individuals working with children have a trustworthy background.

Contention

While the bill seeks to improve safety, there may be concerns regarding the practicality and fairness of implementing these stringent background checks. Those in opposition could argue that the costs associated with fingerprinting and background checks may disproportionately affect smaller child-care providers, thereby limiting their ability to operate. Furthermore, provisions regarding waivers for previously vetted individuals could raise questions about the robustness of the oversight and the potential for gaps in the safety net this bill intends to create.