SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Senate Education Committee unanimously approved legislation Tuesday to shift the responsibility for daycare employee background checks to the future Department of Early Childhood.

Staff from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services are currently in charge of conducting fingerprint-based criminal history checks on providers at daycares and childcare facilities. 

The Department of Early Childhood plans to take over this responsibility when the agency becomes fully functional July 1.

"For the FBI to run a background check for IDEC, our enabling statute in the Childcare Act requires explicit authority to make that request," said IDC general counsel Jennifer Cohen-Deihl.

Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is working with the Illinois State Police to make the bill more efficient for the state agency.

The proposal now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. 

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