Criminal Record Checks for Youth-Related Services (H 6154)

Although the imposition of expansive, mandatory background checks for employment is concerning in itself, even more concerning are those bills which attempt to implement background checks with a notably wide breadth and no meaningful restrictions. This legislation would do so by requiring such checks for all employees in “any facility or business which teachers, gives lessons, classes, or training to children and youth.” Not only could this requirement subject individuals who have absolutely no interaction with youth to these checks, but the legislation contains no reference to the protections currently enshrined in state law which limit the use of criminal records in denying state licenses for justice-involved individuals seeking employment. We opposed the bill for these reasons and noted there is already extensive state law which governs criminal record checks for youth-related occupations.