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LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 959
Introduced by Riepe, 12.
Read first time January 12, 2026
Committee: Health and Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to the Child Care Licensing Act; to amend1
section 71-1908, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025; to require the2
Department of Health and Human Services to create a youth3
afterschool credential and an adult eligibility passport as4
prescribed; and to repeal the original section.5
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,6
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Section 1. Section 71-1908, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, is1
amended to read: 2
71-1908 (1) Sections 71-1908 to 71-1923.03 and sections 2 and 3 of3
this act shall be known and may be cited as the Child Care Licensing Act.4
(2) The Legislature finds that there is a present and growing need5
for quality child care programs and facilities. There is a need to6
establish and maintain licensure of persons providing such programs to7
ensure that such persons are competent and are using safe and adequate8
facilities. The Legislature further finds and declares that the9
development and supervision of programs are a matter of statewide concern10
and should be dealt with uniformly on the state and local levels. There11
is a need for cooperation among the various state and local agencies12
which impose standards on licensees, and there should be one agency which13
coordinates the enforcement of such standards and informs the Legislature14
about cooperation among the various agencies. 15
Sec. 2. (1) The department shall establish a youth afterschool16
credential for individuals who are sixteen or seventeen years of age and17
who are seeking employment in school-age child care programs or temporary18
nonresidential child care programs. For purposes of this section19
temporary nonresidential child care program means child care provided (a)20
for no more than twelve consecutive hours, (b) not on a continuous or21
regularly scheduled basis, and (c) in a location not ordinarily used as a22
licensed child care center. 23
(2) To obtain a youth afterschool credential, an applicant shall:24
(a) Complete all registry checks required for licensed child care25
staff, including the child abuse and neglect and sex offender registries,26
and any additional registry checks required by the department;27
(b) Submit all background check documentation required by the28
department; and 29
(c) Complete a minimum seven-hour new staff orientation for school-30
age programs approved by the department. 31
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(3) A youth applicant who has submitted all required background1
check materials may engage in provisional employment while such checks2
are pending if: (a) The individual is not left alone in a room with3
children; (b) the individual is not included in staff-to-child ratio4
requirements; and (c) the individual's provisional employment is limited5
to school-age child care programs and temporary nonresidential child care6
programs. 7
(4) Upon completion of the requirements in subsection (2) of this8
section, the department shall issue a youth afterschool credential. The9
credential shall be valid for one year after the date of issuance and may10
be renewed through an expedited process established by the department.11
(5) A licensed child care program or youth-serving program approved12
by the department may accept a valid youth afterschool credential as13
verification that the holder has met the initial background check and14
training requirements under this section. 15
(6) The department may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to16
carry out this section, including, but not limited to, application17
procedures, background check verification, renewal procedures, fees,18
approval of training providers, and privacy and data-sharing protections.19
Sec. 3. (1) The department shall establish an adult eligibility20
passport to verify program-ready status for individuals eighteen years of21
age or older and to provide portability of background check requirements22
between licensed child care programs and approved youth-serving programs.23
For purposes of this section, program-ready status means verification24
that an individual has completed all background check and training25
requirements established by the department and is eligible for employment26
under this section. 27
(2) An adult applicant may apply for an adult eligibility passport28
by submitting all documentation required by the department, including:29
(a) A full criminal history record information check, including30
fingerprinting; (b) a check of the child abuse and neglect and sex31
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offender registries; and (c) other background check or documentation1
required by the department for licensure purposes. 2
(3)(a) An adult eligibility passport shall be valid for one year3
after the date of issuance and shall serve as proof that the holder has4
satisfied all state-mandated initial background check requirements for5
employment under this section. 6
(b) Licensed child care programs and approved youth-serving programs7
shall accept a current and valid adult eligibility passport as8
verification that an individual has met the initial background check9
requirements required by this section. 10
(4) The adult eligibility passport shall be renewable annually11
through an expedited process established by the department. The12
department shall automatically update the passport record if new13
background check information becomes available. 14
(5) The department may impose an application or renewal fee for the15
adult eligibility passport, which shall not exceed the cost of16
administering background checks, documentation, and issuance of the17
passport. 18
(6) The department may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to19
carry out this section, including, but not limited to, application20
procedures, background check verification, renewal procedures, fees,21
approval of training providers, and privacy and data-sharing protections.22
Sec. 4. Original section 71-1908, Revised Statutes Supplement,23
2025, is repealed. 24
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