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Bill

HB 1298

Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements

2026 Regular Session

Colorado requires background checks for all individuals in child welfare placements to enhance safety, but implementation costs and kinship care complications may create unintended obstacles.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · HB 1298

Legislative bill overview

HB 1298 requires comprehensive background checks for all individuals involved in child welfare placements, including foster parents, kinship caregivers, and household members. The bill establishes standardized screening protocols and clearance procedures before children can be placed in out-of-home care settings.

Why is this important

Child safety in foster and kinship care depends heavily on vetting those responsible for vulnerable children. Inconsistent or incomplete background check practices have historically allowed individuals with concerning histories to access placement positions, resulting in documented cases of abuse and neglect in care settings.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and implementation burden: Comprehensive background checks for all household members require significant state resources and may slow placement timelines, potentially keeping children in crisis situations longer
  • Kinship care complications: Requiring extensive screening of all relatives may discourage family members from stepping in as caregivers, potentially forcing more children into state custody rather than family-based arrangements
  • Privacy and disqualification standards: Unclear definitions of what disqualifies someone (criminal history thresholds, how far back records extend, handling of sealed records) could create inconsistent enforcement or unintended barriers to otherwise qualified caregivers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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