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House passes bill to require FBI fingerprint checks for newly licensed child‑care providers
Summary
House Bill 165 closes a background‑check loophole by requiring FBI fingerprint checks for newly licensed child‑care providers in Utah after July 1, 2013; the House passed the bill on March 11 by a wide margin (reported 70–3).
The Utah House passed House Bill 165 on March 11, a measure tightening background checks for child‑care workers by eliminating a five‑year residency exemption and requiring fingerprint‑based FBI criminal checks for newly licensed providers.
Representative Cosgrove, the bill sponsor, told the House the change closes a loophole that allowed people who had lived in Utah at least five years to avoid an FBI fingerprint check. Cosgrove said the Department of Defense and a number of states support fingerprint checks and cited federal pilot data showing nationwide fingerprint screening identified cases that a state‑level check would not detect. The bill sets a July 1, 2013, implementation date and was amended in committee to grandfather approximately 13,000 current child‑care providers.
Representative Anderson and others proposed a floor amendment to require immediate coverage of currently licensed providers; that amendment failed. Cosgrove and supporters said the bill moves gradually and preserves a measured approach while improving safety for children. Sponsor Cosgrove summarized: "This bill simply closes a loophole" and urged support.
The Clerk reported the final tally as 70 yes, 3 no; HB165 passed and will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
