Colorado Requires Acceptance of Taxpayer Identification Numbers for Educational Background Checks

Original title: Non-Employment Educational Opportunities Background Check Information

Last action · June 3, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Junie Joseph and 18 others

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What This Bill Does

Colorado law now requires entities conducting background checks for non-employment educational opportunities—such as healthcare clinicals—to accept an individual's or a fingerprint-based check instead of a social security number.

Why it matters

Students and applicants lacking a social security number can now complete mandatory background checks for clinical and educational programs using alternative identification, backed by civil enforcement and financial penalties for non-compliant institutions.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Students in health-related academic programs

Students can use a taxpayer identification number or fingerprint-based background check instead of a social security number for clinical educational experiences.

Directly affected

Licensed or certified hospitals and schools

Institutions must accept taxpayer identification numbers or fingerprint checks for educational opportunities involving vulnerable populations and determine fee payment responsibilities.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can hospitals still require a social security number for clinical background checks?

No. Licensed or certified hospitals offering non-employment educational opportunities involving vulnerable populations must accept either a or a fingerprint-based background check instead.

Who pays for the fingerprint-based background check under this law?

The licensed or certified hospital, covered school, state institution of higher education, or local district college must determine who pays the fee.

What are the penalties for an entity that refuses to comply with this requirement?

Violating entities are subject to a civil penalty of $2,000 for the first violation and $5,000 for each subsequent violation, enforced through civil actions brought by the attorney general.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

13 actions

Jun 3, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Governor Signed
Jun 2, 2026HouseFloor
Signed by the Speaker of the House
Jun 2, 2026SenateFloor
Signed by the President of the Senate
Jun 2, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Sent to the Governor
May 4, 2026SenateFloor
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
May 1, 2026SenateFloor
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

Show 7 earlier actions

Apr 29, 2026SenateCommittee
Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
Apr 24, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
Apr 22, 2026HouseFloor
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Apr 21, 2026HouseCommittee
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Apr 21, 2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
Feb 26, 2026HouseCommittee
House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Unamended to Appropriations
Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

Version history

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