1     
CHILD PLACEMENT BACKGROUND CHECK LIMITS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Christine F. Watkins

5     
Senate Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions relating to background checks performed and licenses
10     issued by the Office of Licensing within the Department of Human Services.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     under certain circumstances, prohibits the Office of Licensing from denying a
14     license based on certain criminal convictions that are older than 10 years;
15          ▸     modifies the time frame within which the Office of Licensing is required to notify
16     the Bureau of Criminal Identification of the status of a license;
17          ▸     modifies the circumstances under which the Office of Licensing is required to
18     conduct a comprehensive review of an applicant's background check; and
19          ▸     makes technical changes.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:                         
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          None
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          62A-2-120, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 335
27     

28     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

29          Section 1. Section 62A-2-120 is amended to read:
30          62A-2-120. Background check -- Direct access to children or vulnerable adults.
31          (1) As used in this section:
32          (a) (i) "Applicant" means:
33          (A) the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-2-101;
34          (B) an individual who is associated with a licensee and has or will likely have direct
35     access to a child or a vulnerable adult;
36          (C) an individual who provides respite care to a foster parent or an adoptive parent on
37     more than one occasion;
38          (D) a department contractor;
39          (E) a guardian submitting an application on behalf of an individual, other than the child
40     or vulnerable adult who is receiving the service, if the individual is 12 years of age or older and
41     resides in a home, that is licensed or certified by the office, with the child or vulnerable adult
42     who is receiving services; or
43          (F) a guardian submitting an application on behalf of an individual, other than the child
44     or vulnerable adult who is receiving the service, if the individual is 12 years of age or older and
45     is a person described in Subsection (1)(a)(i)(A), (B), (C), or (D).
46          (ii) "Applicant" does not mean an individual, including an adult, who is in the custody
47     of the Division of Child and Family Services or the Division of Juvenile Justice Services.
48          (b) "Application" means a background screening application to the office.
49          (c) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Criminal Identification within the Department of
50     Public Safety, created in Section 53-10-201.
51          (d) "Incidental care" means occasional care, not in excess of five hours per week and
52     never overnight, for a foster child.
53          (e) "Personal identifying information" means:
54          (i) current name, former names, nicknames, and aliases;
55          (ii) date of birth;

56          (iii) physical address and email address;
57          (iv) telephone number;
58          (v) driver license or other government-issued identification;
59          (vi) social security number;
60          (vii) only for applicants who are 18 years of age or older, fingerprints, in a form
61     specified by the office; and
62          (viii) other information specified by the office by rule made in accordance with Title
63     63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
64          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (13), an applicant shall submit the following
65     to the office:
66          (i) personal identifying information;
67          (ii) a fee established by the office under Section 63J-1-504; and
68          (iii) a form, specified by the office, for consent for:
69          (A) an initial background check upon submission of the information described under
70     this Subsection (2)(a);
71          (B) a background check at the applicant's annual renewal;
72          (C) a background check when the office determines that reasonable cause exists; and
73          (D) retention of personal identifying information, including fingerprints, for
74     monitoring and notification as described in Subsections (3)(d) and (4).
75          (b) In addition to the requirements described in Subsection (2)(a), if an applicant spent
76     time outside of the United States and its territories during the five years immediately preceding
77     the day on which the information described in Subsection (2)(a) is submitted to the office, the
78     office may require the applicant to submit documentation establishing whether the applicant
79     was convicted of a crime during the time that the applicant spent outside of the United States or
80     its territories.
81          (3) The office:
82          (a) shall perform the following duties as part of a background check of an applicant:

83          (i) check state and regional criminal background databases for the applicant's criminal
84     history by:
85          (A) submitting personal identifying information to the bureau for a search; or
86          (B) using the applicant's personal identifying information to search state and regional
87     criminal background databases as authorized under Section 53-10-108;
88          (ii) submit the applicant's personal identifying information and fingerprints to the
89     bureau for a criminal history search of applicable national criminal background databases;
90          (iii) search the Department of Human Services, Division of Child and Family Services'
91     Licensing Information System described in Section 62A-4a-1006;
92          (iv) search the Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services'
93     vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation database described in Section 62A-3-311.1;
94          (v) search the juvenile court records for substantiated findings of severe child abuse or
95     neglect described in Section 78A-6-323; and
96          (vi) search the juvenile court arrest, adjudication, and disposition records, as provided
97     under Section 78A-6-209;
98          (b) shall conduct a background check of an applicant for an initial background check
99     upon submission of the information described under Subsection (2)(a);
100          (c) may conduct all or portions of a background check of an applicant, as provided by
101     rule, made by the office in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
102     Rulemaking Act:
103          (i) for an annual renewal; or
104          (ii) when the office determines that reasonable cause exists;
105          (d) may submit an applicant's personal identifying information, including fingerprints,
106     to the bureau for checking, retaining, and monitoring of state and national criminal background
107     databases and for notifying the office of new criminal activity associated with the applicant;
108          (e) shall track the status of an approved applicant under this section to ensure that an
109     approved applicant is not required to duplicate the submission of the applicant's fingerprints if

110     the applicant applies for:
111          (i) more than one license;
112          (ii) direct access to a child or a vulnerable adult in more than one human services
113     program; or
114          (iii) direct access to a child or a vulnerable adult under a contract with the department;
115          (f) shall track the status of each license and each individual with direct access to a child
116     or a vulnerable adult and notify the bureau [when the license has expired or] within 90 days
117     after the day on which the license expires or the day on which the individual's direct access to a
118     child or a vulnerable adult [has ceased] ceases;
119          (g) shall adopt measures to strictly limit access to personal identifying information
120     solely to the office employees responsible for processing the applications for background
121     checks and to protect the security of the personal identifying information the office reviews
122     under this Subsection (3);
123          (h) as necessary to comply with the federal requirement to check a state's child abuse
124     and neglect registry regarding any individual working in a program under this section that
125     serves children, shall:
126          (i) search the Department of Human Services, Division of Child and Family Services'
127     Licensing Information System described in Section 62A-4a-1006; and
128          (ii) require the child abuse and neglect registry be checked in each state where an
129     applicant resided at any time during the five years immediately preceding the day on which the
130     applicant submits the information described in Subsection (2)(a) to the office; and
131          (i) shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
132     Rulemaking Act, to implement the provisions of this Subsection (3) relating to background
133     checks.
134          (4) (a) With the personal identifying information the office submits to the bureau under
135     Subsection (3), the bureau shall check against state and regional criminal background databases
136     for the applicant's criminal history.

137          (b) With the personal identifying information and fingerprints the office submits to the
138     bureau under Subsection (3), the bureau shall check against national criminal background
139     databases for the applicant's criminal history.
140          (c) Upon direction from the office, and with the personal identifying information and
141     fingerprints the office submits to the bureau under Subsection (3)(d), the bureau shall:
142          (i) maintain a separate file of the fingerprints for search by future submissions to the
143     local and regional criminal records databases, including latent prints; and
144          (ii) monitor state and regional criminal background databases and identify criminal
145     activity associated with the applicant.
146          (d) The bureau is authorized to submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of
147     Investigation Next Generation Identification System, to be retained in the Federal Bureau of
148     Investigation Next Generation Identification System for the purpose of:
149          (i) being searched by future submissions to the national criminal records databases,
150     including the Federal Bureau of Investigation Next Generation Identification System and latent
151     prints; and
152          (ii) monitoring national criminal background databases and identifying criminal
153     activity associated with the applicant.
154          (e) The Bureau shall notify and release to the office all information of criminal activity
155     associated with the applicant.
156          (f) Upon notice from the office that a license has expired or an individual's direct
157     access to a child or a vulnerable adult has ceased, the bureau shall:
158          (i) discard and destroy any retained fingerprints; and
159          (ii) notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation when the license has expired or an
160     individual's direct access to a child or a vulnerable adult has ceased, so that the Federal Bureau
161     of Investigation will discard and destroy the retained fingerprints from the Federal Bureau of
162     Investigation Next Generation Identification System.
163          (5) (a) After conducting the background check described in Subsections (3) and (4), the

164     office shall deny an application to an applicant who, within three years before the day on which
165     the applicant submits information to the office under Subsection (2) for a background check,
166     has been convicted of any of the following, regardless of whether the offense is a felony, a
167     misdemeanor, or an infraction:
168          (i) an offense identified as domestic violence, lewdness, voyeurism, battery, cruelty to
169     animals, or bestiality;
170          (ii) a violation of any pornography law, including sexual exploitation of a minor;
171          (iii) prostitution;
172          (iv) an offense included in:
173          (A) Title 76, Chapter 5, Offenses Against the Person;
174          (B) Section 76-5b-201, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor; or
175          (C) Title 76, Chapter 7, Offenses Against the Family;
176          (v) aggravated arson, as described in Section 76-6-103;
177          (vi) aggravated burglary, as described in Section 76-6-203;
178          (vii) aggravated robbery, as described in Section 76-6-302;
179          (viii) identity fraud crime, as described in Section 76-6-1102; or
180          (ix) [a conviction for] a felony or misdemeanor offense committed outside of the state
181     that, if committed in the state, would constitute a violation of an offense described in
182     Subsections (5)(a)(i) through (viii).
183          (b) If the office denies an application to an applicant based on a conviction described in
184     Subsection (5)(a), the applicant is not entitled to a comprehensive review described in
185     Subsection (6).
186          (6) (a) The office shall conduct a comprehensive review of an applicant's background
187     check if the applicant:
188          (i) has a conviction for any felony offense, not described in Subsection (5)(a),
189     regardless of the date of the conviction;
190          (ii) has a conviction for a misdemeanor offense, not described in Subsection (5)(a), and

191     designated by the office, by rule, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
192     Rulemaking Act, if the conviction is within [five] three years before the day on which the
193     applicant submits information to the office under Subsection (2) for a background check;
194          (iii) has a conviction for any offense described in Subsection (5)(a) that occurred more
195     than three years before the day on which the applicant submitted information under Subsection
196     (2)(a);
197          (iv) is currently subject to a plea in abeyance or diversion agreement for any offense
198     described in Subsection (5)(a);
199          (v) has a listing in the Department of Human Services, Division of Child and Family
200     Services' Licensing Information System described in Section 62A-4a-1006;
201          (vi) has a listing in the Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult
202     Services' vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation database described in Section
203     62A-3-311.1;
204          (vii) has a record in the juvenile court of a substantiated finding of severe child abuse
205     or neglect described in Section 78A-6-323;
206          (viii) has a record of an adjudication in juvenile court for an act that, if committed by
207     an adult, would be a felony or misdemeanor, if the applicant is:
208          (A) under 28 years of age; or
209          (B) 28 years of age or older and has been convicted of, has pleaded no contest to, or is
210     currently subject to a plea in abeyance or diversion agreement for a felony or a misdemeanor
211     offense described in Subsection (5)(a); or
212          (ix) has a pending charge for an offense described in Subsection (5)(a).
213          (b) The comprehensive review described in Subsection (6)(a) shall include an
214     examination of:
215          (i) the date of the offense or incident;
216          (ii) the nature and seriousness of the offense or incident;
217          (iii) the circumstances under which the offense or incident occurred;

218          (iv) the age of the perpetrator when the offense or incident occurred;
219          (v) whether the offense or incident was an isolated or repeated incident;
220          (vi) whether the offense or incident directly relates to abuse of a child or vulnerable
221     adult, including:
222          (A) actual or threatened, nonaccidental physical or mental harm;
223          (B) sexual abuse;
224          (C) sexual exploitation; or
225          (D) negligent treatment;
226          (vii) any evidence provided by the applicant of rehabilitation, counseling, psychiatric
227     treatment received, or additional academic or vocational schooling completed; and
228          (viii) any other pertinent information.
229          (c) [At] Except as provided in Subsection (15), at the conclusion of the comprehensive
230     review described in Subsection (6)(a), the office shall deny an application to an applicant if the
231     office finds that approval would likely create a risk of harm to a child or a vulnerable adult.
232          (d) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
233     office may make rules, consistent with this chapter, to establish procedures for the
234     comprehensive review described in this Subsection (6).
235          (7) Subject to Subsection (10), the office shall approve an application to an applicant
236     who is not denied under Subsection (5), (6), or (13).
237          (8) (a) The office may conditionally approve an application of an applicant, for a
238     maximum of 60 days after the day on which the office sends written notice to the applicant
239     under Subsection (12), without requiring that the applicant be directly supervised, if the office:
240          (i) is awaiting the results of the criminal history search of national criminal background
241     databases; and
242          (ii) would otherwise approve an application of the applicant under Subsection (7).
243          (b) Upon receiving the results of the criminal history search of national criminal
244     background databases, the office shall approve or deny the application of the applicant in

245     accordance with Subsections (5) through (7).
246          (9) A licensee or department contractor may not permit an individual to have direct
247     access to a child or a vulnerable adult unless, subject to Subsection (10):
248          (a) the individual is associated with the licensee or department contractor and:
249          (i) the individual's application is approved by the office under this section;
250          (ii) the individual's application is conditionally approved by the office under
251     Subsection (8); or
252          (iii) (A) the individual has submitted the background check information described in
253     Subsection (2) to the office;
254          (B) the office has not determined whether to approve the applicant's application; and
255          (C) the individual is directly supervised by an individual who has a current background
256     screening approval issued by the office under this section and is associated with the licensee or
257     department contractor;
258          (b) (i) the individual is associated with the licensee or department contractor;
259          (ii) the individual has a current background screening approval issued by the office
260     under this section;
261          (iii) one of the following circumstances, that the office has not yet reviewed under
262     Subsection (6), applies to the individual:
263          (A) the individual was charged with an offense described in Subsection (5)(a);
264          (B) the individual is listed in the Licensing Information System, described in Section
265     62A-4a-1006;
266          (C) the individual is listed in the vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation
267     database, described in Section 62A-3-311.1;
268          (D) the individual has a record in the juvenile court of a substantiated finding of severe
269     child abuse or neglect, described in Section 78A-6-323; or
270          (E) the individual has a record of an adjudication in juvenile court for an act that, if
271     committed by an adult, would be a felony or a misdemeanor; and

272          (iv) the individual is directly supervised by an individual who:
273          (A) has a current background screening approval issued by the office under this
274     section; and
275          (B) is associated with the licensee or department contractor;
276          (c) the individual:
277          (i) is not associated with the licensee or department contractor; and
278          (ii) is directly supervised by an individual who:
279          (A) has a current background screening approval issued by the office under this
280     section; and
281          (B) is associated with the licensee or department contractor;
282          (d) the individual is the parent or guardian of the child, or the guardian of the
283     vulnerable adult;
284          (e) the individual is approved by the parent or guardian of the child, or the guardian of
285     the vulnerable adult, to have direct access to the child or the vulnerable adult;
286          (f) the individual is only permitted to have direct access to a vulnerable adult who
287     voluntarily invites the individual to visit; or
288          (g) the individual only provides incidental care for a foster child on behalf of a foster
289     parent who has used reasonable and prudent judgment to select the individual to provide the
290     incidental care for the foster child.
291          (10) An individual may not have direct access to a child or a vulnerable adult if the
292     individual is prohibited by court order from having that access.
293          (11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an individual for whom the
294     office denies an application may not have supervised or unsupervised direct access to a child or
295     vulnerable adult unless the office approves a subsequent application by the individual.
296          (12) (a) Within 30 days after the day on which the office receives the background
297     check information for an applicant, the office shall give written notice to:
298          (i) the applicant, and the licensee or department contractor, of the office's decision

299     regarding the background check and findings; and
300          (ii) the applicant of any convictions and potentially disqualifying charges and
301     adjudications found in the search.
302          (b) With the notice described in Subsection (12)(a), the office shall also give the
303     applicant the details of any comprehensive review conducted under Subsection (6).
304          (c) If the notice under Subsection (12)(a) states that the applicant's application is
305     denied, the notice shall further advise the applicant that the applicant may, under Subsection
306     62A-2-111(2), request a hearing in the department's Office of Administrative Hearings, to
307     challenge the office's decision.
308          (d) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
309     office shall make rules, consistent with this chapter:
310          (i) defining procedures for the challenge of [its] the office's background check decision
311     described in Subsection (12)(c); and
312          (ii) expediting the process for renewal of a license under the requirements of this
313     section and other applicable sections.
314          (13) An individual or a department contractor who provides services in an adults only
315     substance use disorder program, as defined by rule, is exempt from this section. This
316     exemption does not extend to a program director or a member, as defined by Section
317     62A-2-108, of the program.
318          (14) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (14)(b), in addition to the other requirements
319     of this section, if the background check of an applicant is being conducted for the purpose of
320     licensing a prospective foster home or approving a prospective adoptive placement of a child in
321     state custody, the office shall:
322          (i) check the child abuse and neglect registry in each state where each applicant resided
323     in the five years immediately preceding the day on which the applicant applied to be a foster
324     parent or adoptive parent, to determine whether the prospective foster parent or prospective
325     adoptive parent is listed in the registry as having a substantiated or supported finding of child

326     abuse or neglect; and
327          (ii) check the child abuse and neglect registry in each state where each adult living in
328     the home of the applicant described in Subsection (14)(a)(i) resided in the five years
329     immediately preceding the day on which the applicant applied to be a foster parent or adoptive
330     parent, to determine whether the adult is listed in the registry as having a substantiated or
331     supported finding of child abuse or neglect.
332          (b) The requirements described in Subsection (14)(a) do not apply to the extent that:
333          (i) federal law or rule permits otherwise; or
334          (ii) the requirements would prohibit the Division of Child and Family Services or a
335     court from placing a child with:
336          (A) a noncustodial parent under Section 62A-4a-209, 78A-6-307, or 78A-6-307.5; or
337          (B) a relative, other than a noncustodial parent, under Section 62A-4a-209, 78A-6-307,
338     or 78A-6-307.5, pending completion of the background check described in Subsection (5).
339          (c) Notwithstanding Subsections (5) through (9), the office shall deny a license or a
340     license renewal to a prospective foster parent or a prospective adoptive parent if the applicant
341     has been convicted of:
342          (i) a felony involving conduct that constitutes any of the following:
343          (A) child abuse, as described in Section 76-5-109;
344          (B) commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, as described in Section
345     76-5-109.1;
346          (C) abuse or neglect of a child with a disability, as described in Section 76-5-110;
347          (D) endangerment of a child or vulnerable adult, as described in Section 76-5-112.5;
348          (E) aggravated murder, as described in Section 76-5-202;
349          (F) murder, as described in Section 76-5-203;
350          (G) manslaughter, as described in Section 76-5-205;
351          (H) child abuse homicide, as described in Section 76-5-208;
352          (I) homicide by assault, as described in Section 76-5-209;

353          (J) kidnapping, as described in Section 76-5-301;
354          (K) child kidnapping, as described in Section 76-5-301.1;
355          (L) aggravated kidnapping, as described in Section 76-5-302;
356          (M) human trafficking of a child, as described in Section 76-5-308.5;
357          (N) an offense described in Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses;
358          (O) sexual exploitation of a minor, as described in Section 76-5b-201;
359          (P) aggravated arson, as described in Section 76-6-103;
360          (Q) aggravated burglary, as described in Section 76-6-203;
361          (R) aggravated robbery, as described in Section 76-6-302; or
362          (S) domestic violence, as described in Section 77-36-1; or
363          (ii) an offense committed outside the state that, if committed in the state, would
364     constitute a violation of an offense described in Subsection (14)(c)(i).
365          (d) Notwithstanding Subsections (5) through (9), the office shall deny a license or
366     license renewal to a prospective foster parent or a prospective adoptive parent if, within the
367     five years immediately preceding the day on which the individual's application or license would
368     otherwise be approved, the applicant was convicted of a felony involving conduct that
369     constitutes a violation of any of the following:
370          (i) aggravated assault, as described in Section 76-5-103;
371          (ii) aggravated assault by a prisoner, as described in Section 76-5-103.5;
372          (iii) mayhem, as described in Section 76-5-105;
373          (iv) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37, Utah Controlled Substances Act;
374          (v) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37a, Utah Drug Paraphernalia Act;
375          (vi) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37b, Imitation Controlled Substances
376     Act;
377          (vii) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37c, Utah Controlled Substance
378     Precursor Act; or
379          (viii) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37d, Clandestine Drug Lab Act.

380          (e) In addition to the circumstances described in Subsection (6)(a), the office shall
381     conduct the comprehensive review of an applicant's background check pursuant to this section
382     if the registry check described in Subsection (14)(a) indicates that the individual is listed in a
383     child abuse and neglect registry of another state as having a substantiated or supported finding
384     of a severe type of child abuse or neglect as defined in Section 62A-4a-1002.
385          (15) (a) Notwithstanding Subsection (6) and except as provided in Subsection (15)(b),
386     the office may not deny an application to an applicant solely because the applicant was
387     convicted of an offense that occurred 10 years before the day on which the applicant submitted
388     the information required under Subsection (2)(a) if the applicant has not committed another
389     misdemeanor or felony offense since the day on which the conviction occurred.
390          (b) Subsection (15)(a) does not apply to an offense described in Subsection (14)(c).