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Committee approves change to avoid duplicative background checks for early-childhood ancillary certificate
Summary
HB 352, amended, removes a duplicative criminal-history requirement for the early childhood ancillary certificate (ECAC), a credential for lead teachers in licensed early learning centers; committee voted to report the bill with amendments.
The House Education Committee voted to report House Bill 352 with amendments after testimony from childcare operators and technical discussions with the Department of Education.
Representative Larvadain carried the bill, which in amended form clarifies that the early childhood ancillary certificate (ECAC) processed through the state certification office should not require a duplicative criminal history record check in addition to the state'level child-care criminal background check already required for employment in licensed centers.
Cindy Bishop, executive director of the Child Care Association of Louisiana, explained the current process to the committee and said the bill seeks to remove an additional cost and administrative burden created when the FBI's fingerprint-use restriction requires a separate check for certification despite existing employment background checks. "This is costly and duplicative," Bishop said, calling the extra check an adverse federal rule effect for childcare providers.
Child-care owners and operators told the committee they face financial and staffing strain, and several owners said additional checks have affected staff certifications and pay tiers. Jonathan Pierce of the Child Care Association and several center directors described situations where a renewal or certification denial temporarily downgraded staff and affected school readiness credits.
The Department of Education staff and BESE representatives participated in drafting an amendment that preserves the ECAC credential and clarifies that the statutory change does not devalue certification: the amended language states that the ECAC "shall not require a criminal history record check as provided for in this section in lieu of" other required checks, thereby addressing stakeholders' concerns about professional standards.
Representative Amade made the motion to report HB 352 with amendments; the committee adopted the amendment and, with no objections, reported the bill favorably to the House.
