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Committee advances bill to speed DCS central-registry exception reviews for fingerprinting board
Summary
Senate Bill 14-38 would require the Department of Child Safety to provide DCS and central-registry information to the Board of Fingerprinting to speed determinations on central-registry exceptions; committee staff and DCS described the measure as a consensus bill to reduce delays in employment eligibility reviews.
The House Committee on Health and Human Services returned Senate Bill 14-38 with a due-pass recommendation after Department of Child Safety staff described the measure as a consensus bill intended to speed the central-registry exception process handled by the Board of Fingerprinting.
Under current practice, the board requests DCS records when an individual with a substantiated finding on the DCS central registry applies for an exception to work with children or vulnerable adults. DCS staff said the board often requested records via a slower public-records pathway; SB 14-38 would require DCS to provide its central-registry information directly to the Board of Fingerprinting for purposes of determining central-registry exceptions.
Selena Moreno of DCS told the committee the change is intended to shorten delays that keep applicants from gaining employment; she described the central-registry exception as distinct from a fingerprint clearance card, explaining that the board reviews DCS records and the applicant's evidence to determine whether to grant an exception.
The bill includes a provision making a knowing disclosure of confidential DCS or central-registry information a class 5 felony. The committee returned the bill with a due-pass recommendation; the roll call recorded 10 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent.
Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 14-38 — motion: "SB 14-38 be returned with a due pass recommendation." Outcome: returned with due pass; tally reported by the committee: 10 ayes, 1 nay, 0 abstentions, 1 absent.
