Senator Cutter, primary bill sponsor, introduced House Bill 26-1298, which modifies the background check requirements and certification processes for individuals providing out-of-home care for children in the child welfare system to clarify that fingerprint-based criminal history record checks must be submitted to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a state records check, and then to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a national criminal history record check; specify that information released to facilities, agencies, or county department staff may only indicate whether the applicant is eligible, ineligible, or if the results were inconclusive. If a fingerprint-based criminal history record check identifies an arrest without a disposition that requires further investigation, the information may only be shared with the subject of the background check and cannot be shared with child placement agency; specify that the CBI can only send the results of the FBI fingerprint-based criminal history records check to a county department or state department; add fingerprint-based criminal history record checks as a requirement for kinship foster care home certification, and establishes certain criminal convictions as disqualifying for kinship foster care providers; add individuals who have direct contact with a child or youth or who are associated with the license to those required to undergo fingerprint-based criminal history record checks; require adults residing in a foster care home or kinship foster care home to obtain a fingerprint-based criminal history record check; and applies existing licensing and disqualifying conviction requirements for residential of day treatment child care facilities and foster care homes to kinship foster care homes.

Ms. Logan Ellett, representing CDHS, testified in support of the bill.

The primary bill sponsor provided closing remarks.