It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 45-25 of the General Laws entitled "City Housing Authorities" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

{ADD 45-25-18.12. Housing for the elderly -- Criminal records check. -- Every housing authority or any housing for the elderly subsidized by the federal government shall, as part of the application process for prospective tenants of housing for the elderly projects, request that the division of criminal identification in the department of the attorney general conduct a criminal records investigation of the prospective tenant. This request shall be made immediately prior to the final approval of the application. The division of criminal identification shall not assess a fee for providing the service. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.