Madam Chair and Members of the Subcommittee on Childcare Access and Affordability,

My name is Theresa Peplinski and I have been a licensed family child care provider in Rochester for almost 17 years. I am offering testimony in regard to HF2780. I support this bill and ask you to support it as well.

The repeal of the legislation requiring minor children who live in a child care home to be fingerprinted is the right thing to do. Our children should not be held to this standard that is NOT required by the Federal Block Grant as you were led to believe last session. The children of child care providers are not criminals and should not be treated as such. Repeal of this requirement may prevent providers from leaving the profession and adding to the child care crisis in our state.

Sincerely,

Theresa Peplinski

3813 Stone Point Dr NE

Rochester, MN 55906

507-529-7639