1. (1) The Department will contract with OL to perform a criminal background check, which includes a review of the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) database maintained by the Department of Public Safety pursuant to Title 53, Chapter 10, Part 2, Bureau of Criminal Identification; and if a fingerprint card, waiver, and fee are submitted, OL will submit the fingerprint card and fee to the Department of Public Safety for submission to the FBI for a national criminal history record check.

2. (2)(a) Each client requesting approval of a covered provider must submit to OL a form, which will include a certification, completed and signed by the provider as part of the DWS FFN approved provider process.

   1. (i) Additional household members must give permission to run the background check.

      1. (ii) The provider shall pay applicable background check fees.
      2. (iii) A fingerprint card and fee, prepared either by the local law enforcement agency or an agency approved by local law enforcement, shall also be submitted if required by Subsection R986-700-753(4).
      3. (iv) If the fingerprints are submitted electronically, they must be submitted in conformity with the OL guidelines regarding electronic submissions.

   2. (b) Fingerprints are not required to be submitted if:

      1. (i) the covered individual has previously submitted fingerprints to OL for a Next Generation national criminal history record check;
      2. (ii) the covered individual has resided in Utah continuously since the fingerprints were submitted; and
      3. (iii) the covered individual has not permitted their background check to lapse or expire since the fingerprints were submitted.

3. (3)(i) The provider must state in writing, based upon the provider's best information and belief, that no covered person, including the provider's own children, has ever been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, or had a supported finding from DHHS or a substantiated finding from a juvenile court of severe abuse or neglect of a child.

   1. (ii) If a provider is aware of any such conviction or supported or substantiated finding, but is not certain it will result in a disqualification, OL will obtain information from the provider to assess the threat to children.
   2. (iii) If a provider knowingly makes false representations or material omissions to OL regarding a covered individual's record, the provider will be responsible for repayment to the Department of CC paid by the Department.
   3. (iv) If a provider signs an attestation, a disqualification based on a covered individual who no longer lives in the home can be cured under certain conditions.
4. (4) A provider, caregiver who is 16 years old and older, or covered individual who is 18 years and older shall submit fingerprints under Sections R986-700-751 through R986-700-756 as requested.
5. (5) If OL takes an action adverse to a covered individual based upon a background check, OL will send a denial letter to the provider and the covered individual.

6. (6) A background check must be submitted for each covered individual:

   1. (a) before the date the person becomes a covered individual, unless:

      1. (i) the person is turning 12 years old and resides in the facility where child care is being provided, in which case the background check form must be submitted and authorized within ten business days of the date the child turns 12 years old;
      2. (ii) the person is currently employed by another child care provider within the state and has a current background check; or
      3. (iii) the person has been separated from employment from another child care provider within the state for no more than 180 days and has a current background check; and
   2. (b) on an annual basis.

7. (7)(i) A person may not begin work as a covered individual until the person has completed a fingerprint-based check and the results have been received.

   1. (ii) After the fingerprint-based check has been completed but before full completion of the background check process, a covered individual must be supervised by a person who has fully completed and passed the background check process.
8. (8) The Department may conduct background checks annually.

KEY: child care, grant programs

Date of Last Change: December 8, 2025

Notice of Continuation: August 14, 2025

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 35A-3-203; 35A-3-209; 35A-3-310; 45 C.F.R. 98.21