2013 -- S 0458

=======

LC01289

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - NATIONAL CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK

SYSTEM

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Felag, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Title 12 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE" is

1-2

hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

1-3

     CHAPTER 1.6

1-4

NATIONAL CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK SYSTEM

1-5

     12-1.6-1. Automated fingerprint identification system database. -- The department of

1-6

attorney general may establish and maintain an automated fingerprint identification system

1-7

database that would allow the department to store and maintain all fingerprints submitted in

1-8

accordance with the national criminal records check system. The automated fingerprint

1-9

identification system database would provide for an automatic notification if, and when, a

1-10

subsequent criminal arrest fingerprint card is submitted to the system and matches a set of

1-11

fingerprints previously submitted in accordance with a national criminal records check. If the

1-12

aforementioned arrest results in a conviction, the department shall immediately notify those

1-13

individuals and entities with which that individual is associated and who are required to be

1-14

notified of disqualifying information concerning national criminal records checks as provided in

1-15

the general laws. The information in the database established under this section is confidential

1-16

and not subject to disclosure under the access to public records act, chapter 2 of title 38 of the

1-17

general laws.

1-18

     12-1.6-2. Long-term health care workers. -- The department of the attorney general

1-19

shall maintain an electronic web-based system to assist facilities, licensed under chapters 23-17,

2-1

23-17.4, 23-17.7.1 or section 23-1-52, required to check relevant registries and conduct national

2-2

criminal records checks of routine contact patient employees. The department of the attorney

2-3

general shall provide for an automated notice, as authorized in section 12-1.6-1, to those facilities

2-4

if a routine contact patient employee is subsequently convicted of a disqualifying offense, as

2-5

described in the relevant licensing statute. The department of the attorney general may charge a

2-6

facility a one-time set up fee of up to one hundred dollars ($100) for access to the electronic web-

2-7

based system under this section.

2-8

     12-1.6-3. Immunity from liability. -- The department of attorney general, the

2-9

department of health, or an employer who disqualifies an applicant from employment or

2-10

continued employment on the basis of a disqualification notice as described in section 12-1.6-2 or

2-11

of a national criminal records check relating to disqualifying information shall not be liable for

2-12

civil damages or subject to any claim, demand, cause of action, or proceeding of any nature as a

2-13

result of the disqualification.

2-14

     12-1.6-4. Rules and regulations. – The department of attorney general may promulgate

2-15

rules and regulations to carry out the intent of this chapter.

2-16

     SECTION 2. Section 23-1-52 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department

2-17

of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-18

     23-1-52. Adult day care program licensure. – (a) The director is authorized and

2-19

directed to establish a program for the licensure of adult day care programs. "Adult day care

2-20

program" shall mean a comprehensive, nonresidential program designed to address the biological,

2-21

psychological, and social needs of adults through individual plans of care that incorporate, as

2-22

needed, a variety of health, social and related support services in a protective setting. The director

2-23

is further authorized to promulgate regulations as he or she deems necessary to implement these

2-24

provisions.

2-25

     (b) Any person seeking employment in any adult day care facility licensed herein and

2-26

having routine contact with an adult day care client or having access to such a client’s belongings

2-27

or funds shall undergo a national criminal records check, which shall include fingerprints

2-28

submitted to the federal bureau of investigation (FBI) by the bureau of criminal identification of

2-29

the department of the attorney general or a designated vendor approved by the department of the

2-30

attorney general. The national criminal records check shall be processed prior to or within one

2-31

week of employment. All persons who, as of July 1, 2013, are already employed by an adult day

2-32

care facility and all persons who, as of such date, already provide services under this section shall

2-33

be exempted from the requirements of this section for purposes of their current employment only.

2-34

All persons required to undergo a national criminal records check under this section shall not be

3-1

required to comply with the provisions of this section if they provide their potential employer

3-2

with evidence that they have undergone a national criminal records check in the preceding three

3-3

(3) years, but not before July 1, 2013, and they may request from the bureau of criminal

3-4

identification a letter indicating if any disqualifying information was discovered.

3-5

     (1) The director may by rule, identify those positions requiring national criminal records

3-6

checks. The employee, through the employer, shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification

3-7

of the department of the attorney general for a national criminal records check. Upon the

3-8

discovery of any disqualifying information as defined in subsection 23-1-52(c) and in accordance

3-9

with rules promulgated by the director, the bureau of criminal identification of the department of

3-10

the attorney general shall inform the applicant in writing of the nature of the disqualifying

3-11

information; and, without disclosing the nature of the disqualifying information, shall notify the

3-12

employer in writing that disqualifying information has been discovered.

3-13

     (2) An employee against whom disqualifying information has been found may provide a

3-14

copy of the national criminal records check to the employer. The employer shall make a judgment

3-15

regarding the continued employment of the employee.

3-16

     (3) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau

3-17

of criminal identification of the department of the attorney general shall inform the applicant and

3-18

the employer in writing of this fact.

3-19

     (4) The employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of health,

3-20

evidence that statewide criminal records checks have been initiated on all employees seeking

3-21

employment between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2013, and the results of the checks. The

3-22

employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department, evidence that national

3-23

criminal records checks have been initiated on all employees seeking employment on or after July

3-24

1, 2013, and the results of those checks. Failure to maintain that evidence may be grounds to

3-25

revoke the license or registration of the employer.

3-26

     (5) The employee shall be responsible for the cost of conducting the national criminal

3-27

records check through the bureau of criminal identification of the department of the attorney

3-28

general or a vendor designated by the department of the attorney general.

3-29

     (c) Information produced by a national criminal records check pertaining to conviction,

3-30

for the following crimes will result in a letter to the employee and employer disqualifying the

3-31

applicant from employment: murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, first

3-32

degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, third degree sexual assault, assault on persons

3-33

sixty (60) years of age or older, assault with intent to commit specified felonies (murder, robbery,

3-34

rape, burglary, or the abominable and detestable crimes against nature), felony assault, patient

4-1

abuse, neglect or mistreatment of patients, burglary, first degree arson, robbery, felony drug

4-2

offenses, felony obtaining money under false pretenses, felony embezzlement, abuse, neglect

4-3

and/or exploitation of adults with severe impairments, exploitation of elders, felony larceny, or

4-4

felony banking law violations, or a crime under section 1128(a) of the Social Security Act (42

4-5

U.S.C. section 1320a-7(a)). An employee against whom disqualifying information has been found

4-6

may provide a copy of the national criminal records check to the employer who shall make a

4-7

judgment regarding the continued employment of the employee. For purposes of this subsection,

4-8

“conviction” means, in addition to judgments of conviction entered by a court subsequent to a

4-9

finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, those instances where the defendant has entered a plea of

4-10

nolo contendere and has received a sentence of probation and those instances where a defendant

4-11

has entered into a deferred sentence agreement with the attorney general.

4-12

     SECTION 3. Sections 23-17-34 and 23-17-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17

4-13

entitled "Licensing of Health Care Facilities" are hereby amended to read as follows:

4-14

     23-17-34. Criminal records review -- Nursing facilities -- Home nursing care

4-15

providers and home care providers. -- (a) Any person seeking employment in a nursing facility,

4-16

a home nursing care provider, hospice provider or a home care provider which is or is required to

4-17

be licensed, registered or certified with the department of health if that employment involves

4-18

routine contact with a patient or resident without the presence of other employees, shall undergo a

4-19

national criminal background records check which shall include fingerprints submitted to the

4-20

federal bureau of investigation (FBI) by the bureau of criminal identification of the department of

4-21

the attorney general or a designated vendor approved by the department of the attorney general.

4-22

The national criminal records check shall to be initiated prior to or within one week of

4-23

employment. All employees hired prior to the enactment of this section shall be exempted from

4-24

the requirements of this section. All persons who, as of July 1, 2013, are already employed by a

4-25

covered facility or provider and all persons who, as of such date, already provide services under

4-26

this chapter shall be exempted from the requirements of this section for purposes of their current

4-27

employment only. All persons required to undergo a national criminal records check under this

4-28

section shall not be required to comply with the provisions of this section if they provide their

4-29

potential employer with evidence that they have undergone a national criminal records check in

4-30

the preceding three (3) years, but not before July 1, 2013, and they may request from the bureau

4-31

of criminal identification a letter indicating if any disqualifying information was discovered.

4-32

     (b) The director of the department of health may by rule identify those positions requiring

4-33

criminal background records checks. The identified employee, through the employer, shall apply

4-34

to the bureau of criminal identification of the state police or local police department of the

5-1

attorney general for a statewide national criminal records check. Fingerprinting shall not be

5-2

required. Upon the discovery of any disqualifying information as defined in section 23-17-37 and

5-3

in accordance with the rule promulgated by the director of health, the bureau of criminal

5-4

identification of the state police or the local police department of the attorney general will inform

5-5

the applicant, in writing, of the nature of the disqualifying information; and, without disclosing

5-6

the nature of the disqualifying information, will notify the employer, in writing, that disqualifying

5-7

information has been discovered.

5-8

      (c) An employee against whom disqualifying information has been found may provide

5-9

request that a copy of the national criminal records check background report be sent to the

5-10

employer who shall make a judgment regarding the continued employment of the employee.

5-11

      (d) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau

5-12

of criminal identification of the state police or the local police department of the attorney general

5-13

shall inform the applicant and the employer, in writing, of this fact.

5-14

      (e) The employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of

5-15

health, evidence that statewide criminal records checks have been initiated on all employees

5-16

seeking employment after between October 1, 1991 and June 30, 2013, and the results of the

5-17

checks. The employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of health,

5-18

evidence that national criminal records checks have been initiated on all employees seeking

5-19

employment on or after July 1, 2013, and the results of those checks. Failure to maintain that

5-20

evidence would be grounds to revoke the license or registration of the employer.

5-21

      (f) It shall be the responsibility of the bureau of criminal identification of the state police

5-22

or the local police department to conduct the criminal records check to the applicant for

5-23

employment without charge to either the employee or the employer. The employee shall be

5-24

responsible for the cost of conducting the national criminal records check through the bureau of

5-25

criminal identification of the department of the attorney general or a vendor designated by the

5-26

department of the attorney general.

5-27

     23-17-37. Disqualifying information. -- (a) Information produced by a criminal records

5-28

review pertaining to conviction, for the following crimes will result in a letter to the employee

5-29

and employer disqualifying the applicant from employment: murder, voluntary manslaughter,

5-30

involuntary manslaughter, first degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, third degree

5-31

sexual assault, assault on persons sixty (60) years of age or older, assault with intent to commit

5-32

specified felonies (murder, robbery, rape, burglary, or the abominable and detestable crime

5-33

against nature) felony assault, patient abuse, neglect or mistreatment of patients, burglary, first

5-34

degree arson, robbery, felony drug offenses, larceny, or felony banking law violations felony

6-1

obtaining money under false pretenses, felony embezzlement, abuse, neglect and/or exploitation

6-2

of adults with severe impairments, exploitation of elders, or a crime under section 1128(a) of the

6-3

social security act (42 U.S.C. section 1320a-7(a)). An employee against whom disqualifying

6-4

information has been found may request that a copy of the national criminal background report be

6-5

sent records check to the employer who shall make a judgment regarding the continued

6-6

employment of the employee.

6-7

      (b) For purposes of this section, "conviction" means, in addition to judgments of

6-8

conviction entered by a court subsequent to a finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, those instances

6-9

where the defendant has entered a plea of nolo contendere and has received a sentence of

6-10

probation and those instances where a defendant has entered into a deferred sentence agreement

6-11

with the attorney general.

6-12

     SECTION 4. Chapter 23-17 of the General Laws entitled "Licensing of Health Care

6-13

Facilities" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

6-14

     23-17-60. Criminal records review - long-term care hospital. – (a) For the purposes of

6-15

this section, a “long-term care hospital” shall mean a facility as described in 42 U.S.C. section

6-16

1395ww(d)(1)(iv), which receives payment for inpatient services it provides to Medicare

6-17

beneficiaries pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 1395ww(m).

6-18

     (b) Any person seeking employment in any long-term care hospital having routine

6-19

contact with a long-term care hospital patient or having access to such a patient’s belongings or

6-20

funds shall undergo a national criminal records check, which shall include fingerprints submitted

6-21

to the federal bureau of investigation (FBI) by the bureau of criminal identification of the

6-22

department of the attorney general or a designated vendor approved by the department of the

6-23

attorney general. The national criminal records check shall be processed prior to or within one

6-24

week of employment. All persons who, as of July 1, 2013, are already employed by a long-term

6-25

care hospital and all persons who, as of such date, already provide services under this section

6-26

shall be exempted from the requirements of this section for purposes of their current employment

6-27

only. All persons required to undergo a national criminal records check under this section shall

6-28

not be required to comply with the provisions of this section if they provide their potential

6-29

employer with evidence that they have undergone a national criminal records check in the

6-30

preceding three (3) years, but not before July 1, 2013, and they may request from the bureau of

6-31

criminal identification a letter indicating if any disqualifying information was discovered.

6-32

     (1) The director may by rule identify those positions requiring national criminal records

6-33

checks. The employee, through the employer, shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification

6-34

of the department of the attorney general for a national criminal records check. Upon the

7-1

discovery of any disqualifying information as defined in subsection 23-17-60(c) and in

7-2

accordance with the rule promulgated by the director, the bureau of criminal identification of the

7-3

department of the attorney general shall inform the applicant in writing of the nature of the

7-4

disqualifying information; and, without disclosing the nature of the disqualifying information,

7-5

shall notify the employer in writing that disqualifying information has been discovered.

7-6

     (2) An employee against whom disqualifying information has been found may provide a

7-7

copy of the national criminal records report to the employer. The employer shall make a judgment

7-8

regarding the continued employment of the employee.

7-9

     (3) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau

7-10

of criminal identification of the department of the attorney general shall inform the applicant and

7-11

the employer in writing of this fact.

7-12

     (4) The employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department, evidence

7-13

that statewide criminal records checks have been initiated on all employees seeking employment

7-14

between October 1, 1991 and June 30, 2013, and the results of the checks. The employer shall

7-15

maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department, evidence that national criminal records

7-16

checks have been initiated on all employees seeking employment on or after July 1, 2013, and the

7-17

results of those checks. Failure to maintain that evidence would be grounds to revoke the license

7-18

or registration of the employer.

7-19

     (5) The employee shall be responsible for the cost of conducting the national criminal

7-20

records check through the bureau of criminal identification of the department of the attorney

7-21

general or a vendor designated by the department of the attorney general.

7-22

     (c) Information produced by a national criminal records check pertaining to conviction,

7-23

for the following crimes will result in a letter to the employee and employer disqualifying the

7-24

applicant from employment: murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, first

7-25

degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, third degree sexual assault, assault on persons

7-26

sixty (60) years of age or older, assault with intent to commit specified felonies (murder, robbery,

7-27

rape, burglary, or the abominable and detestable crimes against nature), felony assault, patient

7-28

abuse, neglect or mistreatment of patients, burglary, first degree arson, robbery, felony drug

7-29

offenses, felony obtaining money under false pretenses, felony embezzlement, abuse, neglect

7-30

and/or exploitation of adults with severe impairments, exploitation of elders, felony larceny, or

7-31

felony banking law violations, or a crime under section 1128(a) of the Social Security Act (42

7-32

U.S.C. section 1320a-7(a)). An employee against whom disqualifying information has been found

7-33

may provide a copy of the national criminal records check to the employer who shall make a

7-34

judgment regarding the continued employment of the employee. For purposes of this subsection,

8-1

“conviction” means, in addition to judgments of conviction entered by a court subsequent to a

8-2

finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, those instances where the defendant has entered a plea of

8-3

nolo contendere and has received a sentence of probation and those instances where a defendant

8-4

has entered into a deferred sentence agreement with the attorney general.

8-5

     SECTION 5. Sections 23-17.4-27 and 23-17.4-30 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-

8-6

17.4 entitled "Assisted Living Residence Licensing Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:

8-7

     23-17.4-27. Criminal records review. -- (a) Any person seeking employment in any

8-8

assisted living residence licensed under this act and having routine contact with a resident or

8-9

having access to a resident's belongings or funds shall undergo a national criminal background

8-10

records check to which shall include fingerprints submitted to the federal bureau of investigation

8-11

(FBI) by the bureau of criminal identification of the department of the attorney general or a

8-12

designated vendor approved by the department of the attorney general. The national criminal

8-13

records check shall be processed prior to or within one week of employment. All employees hired

8-14

prior to the enactment of this section shall be exempted from the requirements of this section. All

8-15

persons who, as of July 1, 2013, are already employed by an assisted living residence and all

8-16

persons who, as of such date, already provide services under this chapter, shall be exempted from

8-17

the requirements of this section for purposes of their current employment only. All persons

8-18

required to undergo a national criminal records check under this section shall not be required to

8-19

comply with the provisions of this section if they provide their potential employer with evidence

8-20

that they have undergone a national criminal records check in the preceding three (3) years, but

8-21

not before July 1, 2013, and they may request from the bureau of criminal identification a letter

8-22

indicating if any disqualifying information was discovered.

8-23

     (b) The director of the department of health may by rule identify those positions requiring

8-24

national criminal background records checks. The employee, through the employer, shall apply to

8-25

the bureau of criminal identification of the state police or local police department of the attorney

8-26

general for a statewide national criminal records check. Fingerprinting shall not be required.

8-27

Upon the discovery of any disqualifying information as defined in section 23-17.4-30 and in

8-28

accordance with the rule promulgated by the director of health, the bureau of criminal

8-29

identification of the state police or the local police department of the attorney general will inform

8-30

the applicant in writing of the nature of the disqualifying information; and, without disclosing the

8-31

nature of the disqualifying information, will notify the employer in writing that disqualifying

8-32

information has been discovered.

8-33

      (c) An employee against whom disqualifying information has been found may request

8-34

that provide a copy of the national criminal background report be sent records check to the

9-1

employer. The administrator shall make a judgment regarding the continued employment of the

9-2

employee.

9-3

      (d) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau

9-4

of criminal identification (BCI) of the state police or the local police department of the attorney

9-5

general shall inform the applicant and the employer in writing of this fact.

9-6

      (e) The employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of

9-7

health, evidence that statewide national criminal records checks have been initiated on all

9-8

employees seeking employment between after October 1, 1991 and June 30, 2013, and the results

9-9

of the checks. The employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of

9-10

health, evidence that national criminal records checks have been initiated on all employees

9-11

seeking employment on or after July 1, 2013, and the results of those checks. Failure to maintain

9-12

that evidence would be grounds to revoke the license or registration of the employer. (f) It shall

9-13

be the responsibility of the bureau of criminal identification (BCI) of the state police or the local

9-14

police department to conduct the criminal records check to the applicant for employment without

9-15

charge to either the employee or employer. The employee shall be responsible for the cost of

9-16

conducting the national criminal records check through the bureau of criminal identification of

9-17

the department of the attorney general or a vendor designated by the department of the attorney

9-18

general.

9-19

     23-17.4-30. Disqualifying information. -- (a) Information produced by a criminal

9-20

records review pertaining to conviction, for the following crimes will result in a letter to the

9-21

employee and employer disqualifying the applicant from employment: murder, voluntary

9-22

manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, first degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault,

9-23

third degree sexual assault, assault on persons sixty (60) years of age or older, assault with intent

9-24

to commit specified felonies (murder, robbery, rape, burglary, or the abominable and detestable

9-25

crime against nature) felony assault, patient abuse, neglect or mistreatment of patients, burglary,

9-26

first degree arson, robbery, felony drug offenses, felony obtaining money under false pretenses,

9-27

felony embezzlement, abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of adults with severe impairments,

9-28

exploitation of elders, felony larceny or felony banking law violations or a crime under section

9-29

1128(a) of the social security act (42 U.S.C. section 1320a-7(a)). An employee against whom

9-30

disqualifying information has been found may request that a copy of the criminal background

9-31

report be sent records check to the employer who shall make a judgment regarding the continued

9-32

employment of the employee.

9-33

      (b) For purposes of this section, "conviction" means, in addition to judgments of

9-34

conviction entered by a court subsequent to a finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, those instances

10-1

where the defendant has entered a plea of nolo contendere and has received a sentence of

10-2

probation and those instances where a defendant has entered into a deferred sentence agreement

10-3

with the attorney general.

10-4

     SECTION 6. Sections 23-17.7.1-17 and 23-17.7.1-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-

10-5

17.7.1 entitled "Licensing of Nursing Service Agencies" are hereby amended to read as follows:

10-6

     23-17.7.1-17. Criminal records review. -- (a) Any person seeking employment in a

10-7

facility which is or is required to be licensed or registered with the department of health if that

10-8

employment involves routine contact with a patient or resident without the presence of other

10-9

employees, shall undergo a national criminal background records check, which shall include

10-10

fingerprints submitted to the federal bureau of investigation (FBI) by the bureau of criminal

10-11

identification of the department of the attorney general or a designated vendor approved by the

10-12

department of the attorney general. The national criminal records check shall be initiated prior to,

10-13

or within one week of, employment. All employees hired prior to the enactment of this section

10-14

shall be exempted from the requirements of this section. All persons who, as of July 1, 2013, are

10-15

already employed by a covered facility and all persons who, as of such date, already provide

10-16

services under this chapter shall be exempt from the requirements of this section for purposes of

10-17

their current employment only. All persons required to undergo a national criminal records check

10-18

under this section shall not be required to comply with the provisions of this section if they

10-19

provide their potential employer with evidence that they have undergone a national criminal

10-20

records check in the preceding three (3) years, but not before July 1, 2013, and they may request

10-21

from the bureau of criminal identification a letter indicating if any disqualifying information was

10-22

discovered.

10-23

      (b) The director of the department of health may, by rule, identify those positions

10-24

requiring national criminal background records checks. The employee, through the employer,

10-25

shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification of the state police or local police department of

10-26

the attorney general for a national statewide criminal records check. Fingerprinting shall not be

10-27

required. Upon the discovery of any disqualifying information as defined in section 23-17.7.1-20

10-28

and in accordance with the rule promulgated by the director of the department of health, the

10-29

bureau of criminal identification of the state police or the local police department of the attorney

10-30

general will inform the applicant, in writing, of the nature of the disqualifying information; and,

10-31

without disclosing the nature of the disqualifying information, will notify the employer, in

10-32

writing, that disqualifying information has been discovered.

10-33

      (c) An employee against whom disqualifying information under section 23-17.7.1-20(b)

10-34

has been found may request that provide a copy of the national criminal background report be

11-1

sent records check to the employer who shall make a judgment regarding the continued

11-2

employment of the employee.

11-3

      (d) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau

11-4

of criminal identification of the state police or the local police department of the attorney general

11-5

shall inform the applicant and the employer, in writing, of this fact.

11-6

      (e) The employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of

11-7

health, evidence that criminal records checks have been initiated on all employees seeking

11-8

employment between October 1, 1991 and June 30, 2013, and the results of the checks. The

11-9

employer shall maintain on file, subject to inspection by the department of health, evidence that

11-10

national criminal records checks have been initiated on all employees seeking employment on or

11-11

after July 1, 2013, and the results of those checks. Failure to maintain that evidence would be

11-12

grounds to revoke the license or registration of the employer.

11-13

      (f) It shall be the responsibility of the bureau of criminal identification of the state police

11-14

or the local police department to conduct the criminal records check to the applicant for

11-15

employment without charge to either the employee or the employer. The employee shall be

11-16

responsible for the cost of conducting the national criminal records check through the bureau of

11-17

criminal identification of the department of the attorney general or a vendor designated by the

11-18

department of the attorney general.

11-19

     23-17.7.1-20. Disqualifying information. -- (a) Information produced by a criminal

11-20

records review pertaining to conviction, for the following crimes will result in a letter to the

11-21

employee and employer disqualifying the applicant from the employment: murder, voluntary

11-22

manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, first degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault,

11-23

third degree sexual assault, assault on persons sixty (60) years of age or older, assault with intent

11-24

to commit specified felonies (murder, robbery, rape, burglary, or the abominable and detestable

11-25

crime against nature), felony assault, patient abuse, neglect or mistreatment of patients, first

11-26

degree arson, robbery, felony drug offenses, larceny, or felony banking law violations felony

11-27

obtaining money under false pretenses, felony embezzlement, abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation

11-28

of adults with severe impairments, exploitation of elders, felony larceny, or felony banking law

11-29

violations or a crime under section 1128(a) of the social security act (42 U.S.C. section 1320a-

11-30

7(a)).

11-31

      (b) Information produced by a national criminal records review check pertaining to

11-32

convictions for crimes other than those listed in subsection (a) of this section shall entitle, but not

11-33

obligate the employer to decline to hire the applicant. An employee against whom conviction

11-34

information related to this subsection has been found may request that provide a copy of the

12-1

national criminal background report be sent records check to the employer who shall make a

12-2

determination regarding the continued employment of the employee.

12-3

      (c) For purposes of this section "conviction" means, in addition to judgments of

12-4

conviction entered by a court subsequent to a finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, those instances

12-5

where the defendant has entered a plea of nolo contendere and has received a sentence of

12-6

probation and those instances where a defendant has entered into a deferred sentence agreement

12-7

with the attorney general.

12-8

     SECTION 7. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2013.

     

=======

LC01289

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - NATIONAL CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK

SYSTEM

***

13-1

     This act would expand the type of criminal records check required for persons applying

13-2

to be routine contact patient employees in a long-term facility or provider.

13-3

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2013.

     

=======

LC01289

=======

S0458