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August 29 2014

Bill Will Require Background Checks For Day Care Workers

A bill filled with new rules designed to ensure people who have been arrested on suspicion of violent crimes are given background checks before they start work in state-licensed facilities is on it's way to the governor's desk.

A earlier KCRA 3 investigation revealed more than 1,100 people with arrests on suspicion of violent crimes were granted automatic clearances by the Department of Social Services while investigations into their backgrounds were still pending. "I have no regrets and I would do it all over again," said Ruby Cornejo, one of two DSS workers who revealed the clearance policy. "They shouldn't have even been there in the first place, not one day." The department changed it's policy and stopped issuing automatic clearances after KCRA 3's initial report.

Both the Senate and Assembly didn't think a simple policy change was enough, and members voted to put it put into law. "It seems to me the least of the requirements that we can have is that somebody pass a background check that's caring for foster children or children with developmental disabilities or caring for the elderly." Maienschein said.