Non-Employment Educational Opportunities Background Check Information

Plain English Breakdown

The source text mentions 'certain exceptions' but does not list what they are.

HB26-1143: Accepting Taxpayer IDs or Fingerprints Instead of Social Security Numbers for School Background Checks

This law requires certain schools and hospitals to accept a taxpayer identification number or fingerprints instead of a social security number when conducting background checks for non-job educational programs.

What This Bill Does

• Requires entities asking for a social security number for background checks on non-employment education opportunities to accept a taxpayer identification number instead, including in clinical experiences for health-related academic programs.
• Allows licensed or certified hospitals, covered schools, state institutions of higher education, and local district colleges offering educational opportunities involving vulnerable populations to accept either a taxpayer identification number or a fingerprint-based background check instead of a social security number.
• Permits applicants involved with vulnerable populations at these facilities to have fingerprints taken by a local law enforcement agency or an entity approved by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
• Requires licensed hospitals, covered schools, state institutions of higher education, and local district colleges to decide who pays for fingerprint-based background checks.
• Authorizes the Attorney General to file civil lawsuits against entities that violate this act.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students applying for non-employment educational opportunities, including clinical experiences in health programs involving vulnerable populations.
• Licensed or certified hospitals and covered schools offering education involving vulnerable populations.
• State institutions of higher education and local district colleges providing these educational opportunities.
• The Attorney General's office regarding enforcement actions.

Terms To Know

Non-employment-based educational opportunity

A learning experience, such as a clinical rotation or internship in health-related programs, that is part of an academic program but not a paid job.

Taxpayer identification number

An ID number issued by the government for tax purposes that can be used instead of a social security number under this law.

Vulnerable population

Groups of people who may need extra protection, such as patients in medical care settings or children, with whom students work during educational opportunities.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law includes certain exceptions that are not fully detailed in the provided summary text.
• The specific effective date for when this law begins is not listed in the source material.
• The exact definition of a 'covered school' or which schools qualify as such is not explained in the provided text.

Official Summary Text

The act requires an entity that requires an individual to provide a social security number for a background check for a non-employment-based educational opportunity to accept an individual's taxpayer identification number in lieu of a social security number, including in clinical educational experiences for health-related academic programs, subject to certain exceptions.
A licensed or certified hospital or covered school, or a state institution of higher education or local district college that offers a non-employment-based educational opportunity that involves work with a vulnerable population, shall accept either an applicant's taxpayer identification number or a fingerprint-based background check in lieu of a social security number.
An applicant for a non-employment-based educational opportunity that involves work with a vulnerable population at a licensed or certified hospital or covered school, or a state institution of higher education or local district college, is permitted to have their fingerprints taken by a local law enforcement agency or an entity approved by the Colorado bureau of investigation for taking fingerprints for the purpose of a background check. A licensed or certified hospital or covered school, or state institution of higher education or local district college, must determine who pays the fee for the fingerprint-based background check.
The attorney general is authorized to bring a civil action to enforce the provisions of the act. An entity that violates this act is subject to a civil penalty of $2,000 for the first violation and $5,000 for each subsequent violation.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)