IdahoIdaho law sets fingerprint checks for many care and service roles
The Department of Health and Welfare checks fingerprints for people in many listed care and service roles; temporary caregiver checks under one program are free.
What it does
The Department of Health and Welfare checks fingerprints for people in many listed care, health, and public service roles. Applicants generally pay a nonrefundable fee, and the department keeps check information confidential.
A proposed guardian must complete and pay for a background check before appointment. The court may also order checks for people living in the proposed home, paid for by the proposed guardian.
Before someone becomes a temporary caregiver, the program must arrange a fingerprint-based criminal history and background check. The Department of Health and Welfare cannot charge for this check.
Argument forFingerprint checks may help providers identify relevant criminal or safety records before people work with children or vulnerable adults.
Argument againstA nonrefundable fee may make some care or service roles harder to pursue for applicants who cannot afford the check.
More detail
The Department of Health and Welfare conducts fingerprint-based background checks and keeps the information confidential. The chapter covers people required by Idaho law to undergo a check, including people in listed care, health, and public service roles. Applicants generally pay a nonrefundable fee unless another law provides otherwise. Rules on disqualifying crimes, records, fees, and challenges to denials require legislative approval. A clearance does not decide whether someone is suitable for a particular job. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
Before appointing a guardian, the court must receive the proposed guardian's background check results; it may also order checks for people living in the proposed home. These requirements apply to appointment of a guardian for an incapacitated person. The proposed guardian pays for the required check and for any check ordered for a person living in the proposed home. The Department provides the results to the visitor and guardian ad litem. The proposed guardian check and related reporting requirements do not apply to an institution or a legal or commercial entity. The proposed guardian's check and the required sharing of its results must occur before appointment.
The temporary care assistance program must arrange a fingerprint-based criminal history and background check for a temporary caregiver. This applies to people seeking to become temporary caregivers in the temporary care assistance program. The Department of Health and Welfare may not charge a fee for checks required by this section. The check must occur before the person becomes a temporary caregiver.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 27, 2026 Session Law Chapter 220 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 30Delivered to Governor at 1:45 p.m. on March 27, 2026To Governor
- Mar 27Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 27Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 27Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 26Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 68 Nays 1 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26Rules Suspended: Ayes 68 Nays 1 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required – PASSED - 41-29-0AYES – Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Egbert, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Haws, Healey, Hill, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mickelsen, Miller, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Shirts, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Alfieri, Barbieri, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Crane(13), Ehardt, Ehlers, Harris, Hawkins, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Price, Rasor, Scott, Shepherd, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, WisniewskiAbsent – NoneFloor Sponsor - WheelerTitle apvd - to enrolMajor
- Mar 26Read second time as amended in Senate; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Read first time as amended in Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 25Reported Engrossed; Filed for First Reading of Engrossed Bills
- Mar 24Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing
- Mar 24Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 24House Concurred in Senate Amendments
- Mar 24Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 23Read third time as amended in the Senate – PASSED - 20-13-2AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Cook, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Lakey, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Carlson, Den Hartog, Foreman, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Shippy, Toews, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – Adams, Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - VanOrdenTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time as amended in the Senate –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 17Read second time as amended in the Senate, filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 16Read first time as amended in the Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 16Amendments reported printed
- Mar 13Reported out as amended; filed for first reading
- Mar 13Amendments ordered printed
- Mar 13Placed in the Committee of the Whole
- Feb 19Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
- Feb 10Introduced, read first time; referred to: Health & WelfareMinor
- Feb 10Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Feb 9Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 36-33-1AYES – Beiswenger, Bingham, Burgoyne, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Dygert, Egbert, Erickson, Fuhriman, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Haws, Healey, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mickelsen, Miller, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, WheelerNAYS – Alfieri, Barbieri, Berch, Boyle, Bruce, Cannon, Crane(12), Crane(13), Ehardt, Ehlers, Furniss, Harris, Hawkins, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Mr. SpeakerAbsent – WisniewskiFloor Sponsor - WheelerTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 9, 2026
- Feb 5Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Feb 4Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Jan 20Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
- Jan 19Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
HealthcareCriminal JusticePublic Safety