Reps. Josh Williams, D.J. Swearingen introduce bill targeting child care fraud

Two Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bill to target child care fraud in the state, following similar legislation proposed by two other lawmakers.

State Reps. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania-Twp., and D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, introduced House Bill 649, which would require child care centers to use existing security cameras or install security cameras at entrances, exits, and “general non-private” areas, to record everything and retain at least 60 days of footage.

The bill would also require the facilities to provide the Ohio Department of Children and Youth with “for compliance reviews.”

The recent news came after allegations of child care fraud committed by Somali immigrants in Minnesota, which resulted in the Ohio Republicans questioning whether something similar was happening in the Buckeye State, especially in Columbus, where the majority of Somali immigrants live.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said last year that there is no massive child care fraud happening in Ohio.

Williams told the Ohio Capital Journal that the surveillance camera footage would help verify that the child being checked in was actually present, not just an adult.

According to him, the bill would also require the ODCY to immediately suspend funding and “initiate a preliminary investigation” when “probable waste, fraud, or abuse is identified.”

After that, the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office would then investigate it and, if prosecution is needed, inform the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Democrats on the committee pushed back against the lawmakers’ rhetoric, saying Ohio lawmakers need proof of the fraud.

“I want to make sure that as we are talking about these issues, that we aren’t assuming the negative intent without being able to prove that the intent to deceive was present,” state Rep. Crystal Lett, D-Columbus, said.
Swearingen responded by saying that the bill was written to “confirm what we reasonably believe to be true, and I wouldn’t advocate for dropping fraud, myself.”

In addition to that, other committee members opposed the bill because children could easily be identified, with photos potentially being leaked. Williams and Swearinger said that the photos would be securely stored and not accessible to the public.

“I’m glad to hear that there have not been any leaks thus far, but having any database of images of minors is really unsettling for me personally,” state Rep. Ashley Bryant Bailey, D-Cincinnati, said.

A similar bill, House Bill 647, was introduced earlier this year by state Reps. Tom Young, R-Washington Twp., and Phil Plummer, R-Dayton.