S1528-119

What This Bill Does

The CHILD Act of 2025 amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to broaden who can be treated as a covered individual for background checks. It adds people who contract with qualified entities, people employed by or volunteering with entities under contract with qualified entities, and people licensed or certified by qualified entities.

The change matters because qualified entities use the National Child Protection Act background-check framework for people who work with children, older adults, or individuals with disabilities.

Who Benefits and How

Qualified entities that serve children, older adults, or individuals with disabilities benefit because they can use the background-check framework for a broader set of workers, contractors, volunteers, licensees, and certification applicants. Children and other protected populations benefit from broader screening coverage for people who may have access to them through contracted or licensed roles.

State background-check systems and qualified entities benefit from clearer statutory authority to include contractors and licensed or certified individuals.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Contractors, subcontracted workers, volunteers, license applicants, and certification applicants connected to qualified entities may face background-check requirements before employment, volunteer service, licensing, or certification. Qualified entities and state administrators must apply the broader covered-individual definition.

The bill does not create a new grant program; the burden is compliance and screening administration.

Key Provisions

• Adds contractors and prospective contractors to the covered-individual definition.
• Adds employees and volunteers of entities under contract with qualified entities.
• Adds people licensed or certified, or seeking licensing or certification, by qualified entities.
• Applies the expanded definition to background checks under the National Child Protection Act of 1993.