Amid concerns about fraud and tax theft, Minnesota lawmakers have passed a law that will allow for better attendance tracking at state-supported daycare facilities.
The new law will provide the state with real-time access to attendance records, which will make it easier to audit centers and ensure the right amount of funds are sent to each facility.
“What you hear repeatedly from auditors and all these things is how difficult it is to actually prove fraud,” said Republican Rep. Nolan West, of Blaine. “We put in language that said they need real-time access to these attendance records,”
Rep. West said the change will allow inspectors to verify records immediately upon entering a building.
Bipartisan Support
Both sides of government expressed interest in cutting down on potential state-sponsored daycare fraud, and Democratic Rep. Dave Pinto, of St. Paul, said that this bipartisan effort has been in progress for several years.
“I think it’ll be that that’s a helpful step forward again,” Rep. Pinto said. “This is something that’s been talked about and worked on over a number of years. And then finally, in 2025, the governor said, ‘Hey, we should do this.'”
As it reads, the new law will require the creation of a statewide electronic record-keeping system to verify enrollment at Child Care Assistance Program daycare providers. The Department of Children, Youth and Families has until July to implement the system.
The change is likely just the first of a number of new measures aimed at cracking down on fraud and waste. Rep. West said he plans to introduce additional measures at an upcoming legislative session that would:
- Require providers receiving $1 million or more in state funds to install entrance cameras
- Increase criminal penalties for violations
Needless to say, daycare fraud has been in the news of late, and it’s no surprise that lawmakers are scrambling to make it seem like they are working hard to combat the crisis. It will be interesting to see if this real-time daycare tracking actually has the intended effect, or if simply leads to more funds being earmarked for the development, installation and upkeep of an attendance program. Here’s hoping it catches more fraud than it costs.
In the meantime, if you’re dealing with a criminal matter that you need sorted out, connect with Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
