Maine child care workers to face background checks, fingerprints

[left-of-center2012]

Lawmakers override Gov. LePage's veto of the bill ...

AUGUSTA — Thousands of child care workers in Maine will now have to undergo criminal background checks and fingerprinting under a new law.

The law requires employees of child care agencies to undergo background checks and fingerprints. The state estimates 5,000 background checks in the law’s first year, and then 2,000 annually after that.

The state will reimburse agencies for the cost of the background checks and processing.

Lawmakers overrode Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of the law Monday. The governor called the bill “bureaucratic, over-regulation.”

Lawmakers have approved funding the law with about $660,000 in federal funds and nearly $400,000 in state special revenue funds.

The law won’t go into effect until 90 days after the Legislature’s ongoing special session officially adjourns.

[RockRaven]

1. Are they trying to catch child abusers, or some other segment of society?

I assume since LePage vetoed it that the bill wasn't trying to catch illegal immigrants.

But what I don't know is whether the law is aimed at kid-f*ckers, child-beaters, fraudsters, civil rights abusers, insane persons, or yet something else. He could have been trying to protect any or all of those... out of self-interest perhaps.

[Squinch]

2. This is fairly standard practice in most other states. And good

practice.

[left-of-center2012]

3. "fairly standard practice"

I think California began this about 20 years ago when I was living there.
It should be required everywhere.