FINGERPRINTING CHILDREN/YOUTH

WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS

Senate Bill 383 as passed by the Senate

Sponsor:  Sen. Rick Jones

House Committee:  Judiciary

Senate Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 6-19-17

SUMMARY:

The bill would amend the Child Identification and Protection Act to provide that certain conditions that govern fingerprinting a child would not apply to the fingerprinting of a child or youth with special health care needs.

The Child Identification and Protection Act was recently amended by Public Acts 24 and 25 of 2017 (House Bill 4137 and Senate Bill 38, respectively) to create a new subsection that allows a parent or guardian of a child or youth with special health care needs to volunteer the child's or youth's fingerprints and photograph to the Department of State Police, or an MSP-approved entity, for the purpose of distribution if that child or youth becomes missing or a runaway. Public Acts 24 & 25 take effect August 2, 2017. [1]

Section 4(1) of the act describes the conditions that govern a governmental unit's authority to fingerprint a child.  Senate Bill 383 specifies that this subsection does not apply to fingerprints taken from a child or youth with special health care needs.  The fingerprinting of those children and youth are covered under a separate subsection (2) added by the two new public acts that take effect August 2nd.  Correspondingly, Senate Bill 383 would also take effect August 2nd.

("Child or youth with special health care needs" means a single or married individual under 21 years of age whose activity is or may become so restricted by disease or specified medical condition as to reduce the individual's normal capacity for education and self-support.)

FISCAL IMPACT:

Senate Bill 383 would have no fiscal impact on the Department of State Police or local law enforcement agencies.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Emily S. Smith

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Kent Dell

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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