A lifetime digital fingerprint for poor kids. WI legislators want that? Improve schools instead

Should children be fingerprinted to prevent child care fraud?

By MARY SPICUZZA | mspicuzza@madison.com | Posted: Sunday, February 21, 2010 7:47 am | (2) Comments

In a nutshell

The state would require child care centers participating in the Wisconsin Shares program to start fingerprinting children under a proposal by lawmakers. The proposed bill aims to mandate that the Department of Children and Families implement a biometric fingerprint identification system for monitoring attendance of children for Wisconsin Shares child care providers.

Under the proposal, child care centers receiving money through Wisconsin Shares would need to have the fingerprint systems to check children in and out by Jan. 1, 2011. The fingerprint readers would recognize and approve each child’s identity and attendance, and ensure the child has been legitimately enrolled at the facilities. The legislation also would require DCF to conduct random attendance inspections.

The case for it

State Rep. Mark Honadel, R-South Milwaukee, who is sponsoring the bill in the Assembly, says it would immediately eliminate fraud in the Wisconsin Shares program. A Feb. 15 memo to other lawmakers seeking co-sponsors, which was sent by Honadel and Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, cited the millions of dollars lost to fraudulent or improper subsidy payments to Wisconsin Shares child care providers. Many have committed fraud by inflating the numbers of children in their care.

“I’m trying to stop fraud and protect kids,” Honadel said.

The case against it

Opponents say the bill treats children as if they were commodities and, if passed, would stigmatize poor children and their families. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin said the legislation would make low-income children feel like inventory and inferior to their wealthier peers — and will violate their rights and privacy. The ACLU called its author “Big Brother” Honadel.

“Why are we treating the children who have done nothing wrong as if they were suspects?” asked Chris Ahmuty, executive director of the state ACLU.

Ahmuty asked how lawmakers thought poor parents should respond to their children, should the bill pass, when they ask why children with more money aren’t being fingerprinted.

To get involved

Honadel can be reached at (608) 266-0610 or Rep.Honadel@legis.wisconsin.gov.

Darling can be reached at (608) 266-5830 or Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov.

To contact lawmakers to oppose or support the bill, use the legislative hot line, which is staffed from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekdays, call 800-362-9472. To send an e-mail, log onto the Legislature’s Web page at www.legis.state.wi.us, select Senate or Assembly, and follow the link to the e-mail directory.

A lifetime digital fingerprint for poor kids. WI legislators want that? Improve schools instead

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