Catherine Brumm

I am an Occupational Therapist who frequently works in public schools, including charter schools, who has students from multiple sending districts in a single school. I have been required to drive to each student's sending district to obtain fingerprinting and background checks prior to providing services to these students, which has sometimes postponed my ability to begin providing services to students sooner. I am also frequently asked to help out with last-minute work coverage requests, maternity coverage requests, and evaluation overflow requests in districts that need immediate support, but I often can't begin helping until the fingerprinting and background checks are complete. Having a statewide system in place that keeps records of my fingerprints would certainly make it easier for me and other therapists like me to provide occupational therapy services to students in schools when their current district needs last-minute support. I support this bill, and thank you for consideration of my testimony.