Mason Passes Measure Increasing Safety for Children at Day Care Centers

State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is increasing the safety for children at day care centers by sponsoring a measure that requires day care centers to conduct criminal background checks of their employees and volunteers every five years.

“Every day, parents across Illinois drop their kids off at day cares, placing their trust in these day care centers to take care of their children and keep them safe. Parents place this trust not only in the day care center but also their employees and volunteers,” said Mason. “That’s why we need to do everything we can, including conducting background checks, to make sure that our children will be safe in the hands of day care workers.”

The Mason-sponsored House Bill 3439 requires that an employee or volunteer at a day care center or home completes a criminal background check every five years. While waiting for the results of a criminal background from the Department of Children and Family Services or Department of Early Childhood, day care centers may hire an employee or volunteer on a probationary basis only if said employee or volunteer has received a qualifying background check result from either the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Illinois State Police.

Employees or volunteers that are hired on a probationary basis will be supervised at all times by an employee that has passed a background check, ensuring the safety of all children at a day care. Additionally, these probationary workers will be made aware before hiring that their employment can be terminated due to the results of their criminal background check.

“Many working families across the state rely on day care centers to take care of their children while parents work to support their family, and parents should have peace of mind that their child will be safe when they drop their children off at day care,” said Mason. “I am proud to champion this bill, putting the safety of children and working families first while supporting day care centers across the state.”