Ga. Senate passes childcare personnel legislation

ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia state Senate has passed a bill requiring childcare employees to pass a national fingerprint records check every five years.
 
      Lawmakers Wednesday voted 44-4 to approve House Bill 350, which requires all childcare center directors and Department of Early Care and Learning workers to pass the records checks.
 
      Georgia law currently requires directors of state-licensed childcare centers to pass national fingerprint records background checks, but all other employees are only required to pass background checks based on their names.
 
      The background checks are expected to scan childcare workers for criminal records in all 50 states, and officials say 26 other states have already passed similar legislation.
 
      The bill is set to be presented to Gov. Nathan Deal.