New Fingerprint Law Has Daycare Providers Raising Questions

UNDATED -- A new Minnesota law has daycare providers asking questions.

During this past legislative session, lawmakers approved a new law requiring all teenage children of home daycare providers to get a fingerprint with their background checks.

Chuck Johnson is the Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Human Services. He says the fingerprints provide the department more access to federal data.

"We're able to see state crimes with the BCA, but if a crime happened in another state we would be able to see that information in the federal database without a fingerprint."

While background checks are not anything new, the idea of fingerprinting has some home daycares raising concerns.

Marcia Schlattman is the Program Manager with Milestones, a private non-profit that works with childcare providers. She says before providers jump to conclusion, it's important to get all the facts of the new law.

"I understand people who may have concerns, but I do think because this is new and the information is limited, we really need to look at what this really means and what is involved."

Schlattman says the law is all about putting parents at ease and leaving their child in a safe environment. She says she believes it will not be that much of a change for daycare providers.

"For some people the change could have people decide to move on to something else, but for people who are new to the industry they don't see it as much of a change and are aware of it when they start."

Johnson says while he understands the concerns and questions of providers, there is some time to clarify things.

"We have time to work on those goals and finding a place where we are not putting too much of a burden to providers and ensuring we have a safe environment for kids who are in care."

The law is expected to go into effect by late 2018.