The bill amends existing laws regarding criminal history records checks for employees of service providers in Arkansas. It introduces provisions that allow third-party employee evaluation services to conduct these checks and expands the definition of "employee" to include independent contractors engaged to provide care to clients. The bill also stipulates that service providers must inform applicants that employment or contractual engagement is contingent upon satisfactory results from criminal history checks. Additionally, it allows for conditional employment pending the results of these checks and mandates that service providers conduct periodic checks on employees at least once every five years.

Key amendments include the addition of definitions for "third-party employee evaluation service" and the inclusion of independent contractors in the employment criteria. The bill also clarifies the process for determining disqualification from employment based on criminal history, allowing for waivers under certain conditions. Furthermore, it emphasizes the confidentiality of the reports obtained from these checks, restricting their use to authorized agencies and ensuring they are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the safety and integrity of service providers by ensuring thorough background checks for all individuals involved in client care.

Statutes affected:
HB 1454: 20-38-101, 20-78-202, 20-78-209, 20-10-801, 20-7-117, 20-10-702, 20-10-1202, 20-38-103(a), 20-38-103(b), 20-38-103(c), 20-38-103(d), 20-38-105(a), 20-38-105(d), 20-38-105(e), 20-38-106, 20-38-110, 25-19-101, 20-38-112(e)