FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 248 as introduced would increase the administrative and financial obligations of the Department of Human Resources as follows: 1) per the Department, an estimated $12 million to develop a system to maintain electronic records regarding children and facts learned about children and their relatives; 2) by an undetermined amount to complete suitability determination letters every five years for applicants, volunteers, or employees of any defined day care center; and 3) by an undetermined amount to amend and adopt new rules pursuant to the provisions of this bill regarding minimum standards for licensing daycare centers.

This act will also increase the administrative obligations of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to update criminal background checks every five years for applicants, volunteers, or employees of any defined day care center. This increase in obligations would be offset by the $25.00 fee required to be paid by applicants, volunteers and employees, for background checks. Further, per the Department, this bill could decrease funding to the state by approximately $146,861,885 in Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grants for non-compliance with current federal regulations.