Bill aims to clarify fingerprinting requirements for daycare providers' children

A change in background study requirements last year has caused concern among daycare providers about their children’s privacy.

Sponsored by Rep. Duane Quam (R-Byron), HF2780 would help address that unease. The House Subcommittee on Childcare Access and Affordability approved the bill Tuesday and referred it to the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee. It has no Senate companion.

The change made in 2017 requires teenaged children (ages 13-17) of in-home child care providers to submit their fingerprints and photos for a background check. This prompted an uproar from parents, with Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria), the subcommittee chair, saying it was “probably the No. 1 issue” she’s heard about since the session adjourned.

Meetings with providers about this issue prompted the bill, which some providers say could help with the ongoing child care crisis in Minnesota.

The bill would allow parents of minor children to choose whether their fingerprint data be submitted for a national criminal history check. It would also require that, after a background study is complete, the Department of Human Services notify the person that their fingerprints are not retained.

Quam hopes to bring some “consistency” to the background study process. The bill would require the commissioner to propose legislation in 2019 to establish a single background check process for certain professions, such as child care providers and teachers. The study would be transferable between professions and counties.

Not all providers support the bill as it’s currently written. A proposed amendment would address some of those issues, including providing full disclosure with how fingerprints will be used and requiring the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to have the FBI remove fingerprint data from its database once a person is no longer subject to background checks.

The amendment didn’t meet the subcommittee deadline, but Quam said it will be presented to the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee.