Lopez, Vainieri Huttle, Mosquera on Improving Protections for Children at Childcare Centers Bills Released from Committee

Would Require Drug Testing for Applicants and Workers, Limit Access to

Disqualifying Criminal Background Check Information

(TRENTON) – Regarding two childcare center measures (A-4286 and A-4625) recently released from the Assembly Women and Children Committee, Assembly Democrats Yvonne Lopez (D-Middlesex), Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and Gabriela Mosquera
(D-Camden, Gloucester) issued the following statement Tuesday:

“These measures are in the best interest of both the children and employees at our state’s childcare centers. By requiring prospective and current childcare center workers to undergo drug testing as a condition of employment, we are helping to ensure that those entrusted to care for our children do not compromise their wellbeing as a result of illicit drug use. Childcare environments should be educational, nurturing and free from workers whose mental state is potentially altered.   

“Additionally, by mandating that only designated persons at childcare centers have access to applicants’ disqualifying criminal background check information, the centers are in a stronger position to safeguard these sensitive details and prevent them from being improperly shared.”