Effective: October 17, 2019
Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Applicant" means either of the following:
(a) A person who is under final consideration for appointment to or employment in a position with a licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care, child day-care center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, or child day camp;
(b) A person who would serve in any position with a licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care, child day-care center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, or child day camp pursuant to a contract with another entity.
(2) "Criminal records check" has the same meaning as in section 109.572 of the Revised Code.
(B)(1) At the times specified in division (B)(2)(a) of this section, the director of job and family services shall request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct a criminal records check for each of the following persons:
(a) Any owner or licensee of a child day-care center;
(b) Any owner or licensee of a type A family day-care home or licensed type B family day-care home and any person eighteen years of age or older who resides in the home;
(c) Any owner of an approved child day camp;
(d) Any director of a licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care;
(e) Any in-home aide;
(f) Any applicant or employee, including an administrator, of a child day-care center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, approved child day camp, or licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care.
(2)(a) The director shall request a criminal records check at the following times:
(i) In the case of an owner or licensee of child day-care center or an owner or licensee of a type A family day-care home or licensed type B family day-care home or a resident of such a home, at the time of initial application for licensure and every five years thereafter;
(ii) In the case of an owner of an approved child day camp, at the time of initial application for approval and every five years thereafter;
(iii) In the case of a director of a licensed child care program or licensed school child program, at the time of initial application to provide publicly funded child care and every five years thereafter;
(iv) In the case of an in-home aide, at the time of initial application for certification and every five years thereafter;
(v) Except as provided in division (B)(2)(a)(vi) of this section, in the case of an applicant or employee, at the time of initial application for employment and every five years thereafter;
(vi) In the case of an applicant who has been determined eligible for employment after a review of a criminal records check within the past five years and who has been employed by a licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care, child day-care center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, or approved child day camp within the past one hundred eighty consecutive days, every five years after the date of the initial determination.
(b) A criminal records check requested at the time of initial application shall include a request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation as part of the criminal records check for the person, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases as described in 42 U.S.C. 671 for the person subject to the criminal records check.
(c) A criminal records check requested at any time other than the time of initial application may include a request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation as part of the criminal records check for the person, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases as described in 42 U.S.C. 671 for the person subject to the criminal records check.
(3) With respect to a criminal records check requested for a person described in division (B)(1) of this section, the director of job and family services shall do all of the following:
(a) Provide to the person a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and a standard impression sheet to obtain fingerprint impressions prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section;
(b) Obtain the completed form and impression sheet from the person;
(c) Forward the completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation;
(d) Review the results of the criminal records check.
(4) A person who receives from the director a copy of the form and standard impression sheet and who is requested to complete the form and provide a set of fingerprint impressions shall complete the form or provide all of the information necessary to complete the form and shall provide the impression sheet with the impressions of the person's fingerprints. If the person, upon request, fails to provide the information necessary to complete the form or fails to provide impressions of the person's fingerprints, the director or a county director of job and family services may consider the failure a reason to deny licensure, approval, or certification or to determine an employee ineligible for employment.
(5) Except as provided in rules adopted under division (F) of this section:
(a) The director of job and family services shall refuse to issue a license to or approve a center, type A home, type B home, child day camp, preschool program, or school child program, and shall revoke a license or approval, and a county director of job and family services shall not certify an in-home aide and shall revoke a certification, if a person for whom a criminal records check was required under division (B)(1)(a) to (B)(1)(e) of this section has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the violations described in division (A)(5) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code.
(b) The director of job and family services shall not issue a license to a type A home or type B home if a resident of the type A home or type B home is under eighteen years of age and has been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing either a violation of any section listed in division (A)(5) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code or an offense of another state or the United States that is substantially equivalent to an offense listed in division (A)(5) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code.
(c) The director shall determine an applicant or employee ineligible for employment if the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the violations described in division (A)(5) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code.
(6) Each child day-care center, type A home, type B home, approved child day camp, licensed child care program, licensed school child program, and in-home aide shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code for each criminal records check conducted in accordance with that section upon a request made pursuant to division (B) of this section.
A center, home, camp, preschool program, or school child program may charge an applicant a fee for the costs it incurs in obtaining a criminal records check under this section. A fee charged under this division shall not exceed the amount the center, home, camp, or program pays under this section. If a fee is charged, the center, home, camp, or program shall notify the applicant at the time of the applicant's initial application for employment of the amount of the fee and that, unless the fee is paid, the center, home, camp, or program will not consider the applicant for employment.
(7) The report of any criminal records check conducted by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code and pursuant to a request made under division (B) of this section is confidential and not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The report shall not be made available to any person other than the person who is the subject of the criminal records check or the person's representative, the director of job and family services, the director of a county department of job and family services, and any court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with a denial or revocation of licensure, approval, or certification related to the criminal records check.
(C)(1) At the times specified in division (C)(2) of this section, the director of job and family services shall search the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system for information concerning any abuse or neglect report made pursuant to section 2151.421 of the Revised Code of which any of the following persons is a subject:
(a) Any owner or licensee of a child day-care center;
(b) Any owner or licensee of a type A family day-care home or licensed type B family day-care home and any person eighteen years of age or older who resides in the home;
(c) Any owner of an approved child day camp;
(d) Any director of a licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care;
(e) Any in-home aide;
(f) Any applicant or employee, including an administrator, of a child day-care center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, approved child day camp, or licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care.
(2) The director shall search the information system at the following times:
(i) In the case of an owner or licensee of child day-care center or an owner or licensee of a type A family day-care home or licensed type B family day-care home or a resident of such a home, at the time of initial application for licensure and every five years thereafter;
(ii) In the case of an owner of an approved child day camp, at the time of initial application for approval and every five years thereafter;
(iii) In the case of a director of a licensed child care program or licensed school child program, at the time of initial application to provide publicly funded child care and every five years thereafter;
(iv) In the case of an in-home aide, at the time of initial application for certification and every five years thereafter;
(v) Except as provided in division (C)(2) (a)(vi) of this section, in the case of an applicant or employee, at the time of initial application for employment and every five years thereafter;
(vi) In the case of an applicant who has been determined eligible for employment after a search of the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system within the past five years and who has been employed by a licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care, child day-care center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, or approved child day camp within the past one hundred eighty consecutive days, every five years after the date of the initial determination.
(3) The director shall consider any information discovered pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section or that is provided by a public children services agency pursuant to section 5153.175 of the Revised Code. If the director determines that the information, when viewed within the totality of the circumstances, reasonably leads to the conclusion that the person may directly or indirectly endanger the health, safety, or welfare of children, the director or county director of job and family services shall do any of the following:
(a) Refuse to issue a license to or approve a center, type A home, type B home, child day camp, preschool program, or school child program;
(b) Revoke a license or approval;
(c) Refuse to certify an in-home aide or revoke a certification;
(d) Determine an applicant or employee ineligible for employment with the center, type A home, licensed type B home, child day camp, preschool program, or school child program.
(4) Any information obtained under division (C) of this section is confidential and not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The information shall not be made available to any person other than the person who is the subject of the search or the person's representative, the director of job and family services, the director of a county department of job and family services, and any court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with a denial or revocation of licensure, approval, or certification related to the search.
(D)(1) At the times specified in division (D)(2) of this section, the director of job and family services shall inspect the state registry of sex offenders and child-victim offenders established under section 2950.13 of the Revised Code and the national sex offender registry as described in 42 U.S.C. 16901 to determine if any of the following persons is registered or required to be registered as an offender:
(a) Any owner or licensee of a child day-care center;
(b) Any owner or licensee of a type A family day-care home or licensed type B family day-care home and any person eighteen years of age or older who resides in the home;
(c) Any owner of an approved child day camp;
(d) Any director of a licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care;
(e) Any in-home aide;
(f) Any applicant or employee, including an administrator, of a child day-care center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, approved child day camp, or licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care.
(2) The director shall inspect each registry at the following times:
(i) In the case of an owner or licensee of child day-care center or an owner or licensee of a type A family day-care home or type B family day-care home or a resident of such a home, at the time of initial application for licensure and every five years thereafter;
(ii) In the case of an owner of an approved child day camp, at the time of initial application for approval and every five years thereafter;
(iii) In the case of a director of a licensed child care program or licensed school child program, at the time of initial application to provide publicly funded child care;
(iv) In the case of an in-home aide, at the time of initial application for certification and every five years thereafter;
(v) Except as provided in division (D)(2) (a)(vi) of this section, in the case of an applicant or employee, at the time of initial application for employment and every five years thereafter;
(vi) In the case of an applicant who has been determined eligible for employment after an inspection of the state registry of sex offenders and child-victim offenders established under section 2950.13 of the Revised Code and the national sex offender registry as described in 42 U.S.C. 16901 within the past five years and who has been employed by a licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care, child day-care center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, or approved child day camp within the past one hundred eighty consecutive days, every five years after the date of the initial determination.
(3) If the director determines that the person is registered or required to be registered on either registry, the director or county director of job and family services shall do any of the following:
(a) Refuse to issue a license to or approve a center, type A home, type B home, child day camp, preschool program, or school child program;
(b) Revoke a license or approval;
(c) Refuse to certify an in-home aide or revoke a certification;
(d) Determine an applicant or employee ineligible for employment with the center, type A home, licensed type B home, child day camp, preschool program, or school child program.
(4) Any information obtained under division (D) of this section is confidential and not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The information shall not be made available to any person other than the person who is the subject of the inspection or the person's representative, the director of job and family services, the director of a county department of job and family services, and any court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with a denial or revocation of licensure, approval, or certification related to the search.
(E) Whenever the director of job and family services determines a person ineligible for employment under division (B), (C), or (D) of this section, the director shall as soon as practicable notify the following of that determination: the licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care, child day-care center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, or approved child day camp that is considering the person for appointment or employment. A licensed preschool program or licensed school child program that provides publicly funded child care, child day-center, type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, or approved child day camp shall not employ a person who is determined under this section to be ineligible for employment.
(F)(1) An administrator of a child day camp, other than an approved child day camp shall request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct a criminal records check for any applicant or employee, including an administrator, of the child day camp. The request shall be made at the time of initial application for employment and every five years thereafter.
(2) A criminal records check requested at the time of initial application shall include a request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation as part of the criminal records check for the person, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases as described in 42 U.S.C. 671 for the person subject to the criminal records check.
(3) A criminal records check requested at any time other than the time of initial application may include a request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation as part of the criminal records check for the person, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases as described in 42 U.S.C. 671 for the person subject to the criminal records check.
(4) With respect to a criminal records check requested under division (F) of this section, the administrator shall do all of the following:
(a) Provide to the applicant or employee a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and a standard impression sheet to obtain fingerprint impressions prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section;
(b) Obtain the completed form and impression sheet from the applicant or employee;
(c) Forward the completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation;
(d) Review the results of the criminal records check.
(5) An applicant or employee who receives from the administrator a copy of the form and standard impression sheet and who is requested to complete the form and provide a set of fingerprint impressions shall complete the form or provide all of the information necessary to complete the form and shall provide the impression sheet with the impressions of the person's fingerprints. If the applicant or employee, upon request, fails to provide the information necessary to complete the form or fails to provide impressions of the person's fingerprints, the administrator may consider the failure a reason to determine an applicant or employee ineligible for employment.
(6) A child day camp, other than an approved child day camp, may employ an applicant or continue to employ an employee until the criminal records check required by this section is completed and the camp receives the results of the check. Until the administrator has reviewed the results of the criminal records check and determines that the applicant or employee is eligible for employment, the camp shall not grant the applicant or employee sole responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child. If the results indicate that the applicant or employee is ineligible for employment, the camp shall immediately release the applicant or employee from employment.
(7) Except as provided in rules adopted under this section, the administrator shall determine an applicant or employee ineligible for employment if the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the violations described in division (A)(5) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code. If the applicant or employee is determined ineligible, the child day camp shall not employ the applicant or employee or contract with another entity for the services of the applicant or employee.
(8) Each child day camp shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code for each criminal records check conducted in accordance with that section upon a request made pursuant to division (F) of this section. A camp may charge an applicant or employee a fee for the costs it incurs in obtaining a criminal records check under division (F) of this section. A fee charged under this division shall not exceed the fees the camp pays under this section. If a fee is charged, the camp shall notify the applicant at the time of the applicant's initial application for employment of the amount of the fee and that, unless the fee is paid, the camp will not consider the applicant for employment.
(9) The report of any criminal records check conducted by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code and pursuant to a request made under division (F) of this section is confidential and not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The report shall not be made available to any person other than the person who is the subject of the criminal records check or the person's representative, the director of job and family services, the administrator, and any court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with a denial or revocation of registration related to the criminal records check.
(G) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The rules shall specify exceptions to the prohibitions in division (B), (E), and (F) of this section for a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a criminal offense listed in division (A)(5) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code but who meets standards in regard to rehabilitation set by the director.
(H)(1) Whenever the director of job and family services requests a criminal records check, searches the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system, or inspects the state registry of sex offenders and child-victim offenders and national sex offender registry as required by this section and finds that a person who is subject to the requirements of division (B), (C), or (D) of this section resided in another state during the previous five years, the director shall request the following from the other state: a criminal records check and information from the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system or state registry of sex offenders.
(2) Whenever the director receives from an agency of another state a request for a criminal records check or for information from the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system or state registry of sex offenders that is related to a child care license or the provision of publicly funded child care, the director shall provide to that other state's agency the results of the records check and information from the system and registry.
Last updated April 30, 2021 at 9:10 AM