Source: http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/may2016/final/19%20DE%20Reg%201025%2005-01-16.htm
Timestamp: 2018-02-21 16:58:16
Document Index: 101755694

Matched Legal Cases: ['§309', '§6', '§3', '§4', '§4', '§10118', '§923']

The Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families ("DSCYF") initiated proceedings to adopt State of Delaware DELACARE Regulations - Child Protection Registry Checks for Health Care Facilities, Public Schools, Private Schools and Youth Camps to comply with changes in Delaware Code. On March 1, 2016 the proposed changes were published in the Delaware Register of Regulations. Written comments were accepted until March 31, 2016. Several regulations were revised based on the comments received. The results of the evaluation of the comments received are summarized in the accompanying "Summary of Evidence."
In accordance with Delaware law, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) published in the Delaware Register of Regulations DELACARE Regulations - Child Protection Registry Checks for Health Care Facilities, Public Schools, Private Schools and Youth Camps in March 2016. The period of public comment ended March 31, 2016. Comments were provided by the following:
The regulation appears to omit provisions related to student teachers implementing 31 Del.C. §309(e)(1). That statute contemplates submission of registry information to the student teacher's college/university while the regulation only envisions submission of the information to an employer (which does not include a college/university).
Agency Response: The agency revised two definitions under regulation 3.0 "Employer" to include higher education institutions and "Person seeking employment" to include student teachers. These revisions make it clear that registry checks will be conducted on student teachers and the results will be provided to the higher education institution.
Second, §6.4 suggests that the employer is only "requested" to provide a copy of the results to an applicant for employment. The statute envisions DSCYF providing the summary to the individual.
Agency Response: The agency revised regulation 6.4 to include "and person seeking employment is notified of the results."
Third, in §3.0, the definition of "person seeking employment" and §4.0 are inconsistent. The former includes volunteers and contractors within the scope of "person seeking employment" while the latter establishes a separate subpart (§4.2) for such persons.
Agency Response: The agency deleted regulation 4.2 to eliminate the inconsistency.
The public was given the required notice of the Department's intention to adopt the proposed revised regulations and was given ample opportunity to provide the Department with comments opposing the Department's adoption of the proposed revised regulations. The required Regulatory Flexibility Analysis and Impact Statement for the proposed revised regulations was submitted. Public comments were received and considered, as discussed in the summary of evidence. The Department finds that the proposed revised regulations, as set forth in the attached copy, should be adopted as being in the best interest of the vulnerable persons of the State of Delaware.
THEREFORE, IT IS SO ORDERED, this 14th day of April, 2016, that the proposed Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families DELACARE Regulations - Child Protection Registry Checks for Health Care Facilities, Public Schools, Private Schools and Youth Camps is adopted and shall become effective ten (10) days from the date of its publication in the Delaware Register of Regulations, in accordance with 29 Del.C. §10118(e) and (g).
The overall purpose of these regulations is to protect the "vulnerable" population in health care facilities[,] public schools, private schools, and youth camps. Therefore, persons seeking employment in a health care facility, public school, or youth camp shall submit to a child protection registry check. People seeking employment in a private school may voluntarily submit to a child protection registry check. A child protection registry search will be conducted to determine if the person is active on the registry as a perpetrator in any substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect.
"Child protection registry" means a central registry of information about [people persons] the Division of Family Services has found cause to believe or a court has substantiated through court adjudication as having committed child abuse or neglect since August 1, 1994. [The Each] substantiated incident shall be designated at one of three levels: II, III, IV.
"Child protection registry check" means a computer search of the child protection registry to determine if a person is active on the registry as a perpetrator in any substantiated case[s] of child abuse or neglect.
"Criminal History Unit" means the [Department] unit[,] located in the Division of Family Services that is responsible for completing child protection registry checks.
"Employer" means any health care facility, [higher education institution,] public school, private school, or youth camp as defined.
["Higher education institution" means a Delaware college or university that has a teacher preparation program that places candidates into student teaching placements in a Delaware public school.]
"Person seeking employment" means any person applying for employment in a public school or public school district, or with an agency that supplies contracted services to students of a public school, or any other person who for any reason has regular direct access to children at any public school, or any person applying for employment in a health care facility or at a youth camp. This definition also includes volunteers[, student teachers,] and substitute teachers.
[4.1	]	Persons seeking employment in a health care facility, public school, or youth camp who have direct access to people receiving care or education are subject to the child protection registry check.
[4.2	Persons seeking to volunteer or work as a contractor in a public school or youth camp who have direct access to people receiving care or education are subject to the child protection registry check.]
6.2	After [receiving the employer obtains] the signed release and payment [is received] from the applicant[, or employer,] the Criminal History Unit conducts a child protection registry check to find out if the person is active on the registry as a perpetrator in any substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect.
6.4	When the person is listed in the child protection registry as a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect, the employer [and person seeking employment is are] notified of the results [with a request to provide a copy of the results to the person seeking employment].
No employer who operates a health care facility or youth camp and no public school may hire any person seeking employment if the person is [currently active] on the child protection registry at child protection Level III or IV as provided in 16 Del.C. §923.
Any private school[, or] youth camp operated by a private school[, or any person or organization whose primary concern is that of child welfare and care] may voluntarily submit to having a child protection registry check conducted at such person's or organization's expense according to the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families' procedures.
The Department shall ensure that confidentiality regarding case file reviews and [that the dissemination of] information is only given out according to Department policy.
19 DE Reg. 1025 (05/01/16) (Final)