Sen. Ernie Lopez delivers the GOP weekly message, touting a bipartisan bill to expand background check requirements for those working with children in the state.
Named after the late Attorney General Beau Biden, the law now includes those working at after school programs, summer camps and other part-time programs.
State code already required background checks for public school teachers and full-time employees working with children.
Lopez says it was a collaborative effort that stretched across party lines.
“As one of the sponsors of the bill, and a member of the task force that conducted a thorough and thoughtful investigation of our state’s background check system, it was refreshing to tackle an issue that had nothing to do with a Republican or Democratic agenda,” said Lopez.
Lopez adds the bill is an example of what he calls an improved bipartisan spirit in the state legislature, where he says the atmosphere of collaboration has improved significantly over his first two years in office.
Full text of Delaware GOP weekly message:
Hello, I’m State Senator Ernie Lopez.
Like all legislative bodies, our General Assembly is at its absolute best when we put political party differences aside and work together toward a common goal benefiting all Delawareans. It is a tradition of governing here in the First State and the most recent example is a bipartisan measure signed this week by Governor Markell.
Known as the Joseph R. "Beau" Biden Child Protection Act, the new law will help us do a better job of protecting Delaware’s most vulnerable citizens by enhancing and expanding the criminal background check process for childcare workers, volunteers.
As many of you know, criminal background checks were already required for public school teachers and other full-time state employees working with children, this bill now requires the expansion of background checks for adults working at summer camps, afterschool programs and other part-time youth serving programs.
As one of the sponsors of the bill, and a member of the task force that conducted a thorough and thoughtful investigation of our state’s background check system, it was refreshing to tackle an issue that had nothing to do with a Republican or Democratic agenda. The collaborative research done to craft this new law, led by our Secretary of Children, Youth and Family Services, Secretary Jennifer Ranji was simply trying to figure out what was best for the people of Delaware and improving an area that had significant loopholes.
Friends, I must say, compared to my first two years in the State Senate, this spirit of bipartisan collaboration was much more prevalent this past session not just in addressing concerns and issues like this but others as well. Addressing practical problems and concerns that affect Delawareans on a daily basis and one that require thought full and meaningful improvement by their elected officials.
While it may have been hard for many to see over the course of this last session, this collaborative spirit was there be it the work that went into crafting a compromise to balance our state budget or in making sure new law like this one, enhancing protections for our children got done.
It is my hope and desire that this spirit continues and the heavy lifting that we all know is needed months and years ahead can be addressed in a way that reflects what makes our state great. Thank you and on behalf of all of my colleagues who have the honor of serving you in the Delaware General Assembly, God bless you and your families.