House Bill No. by Representative Chenevert amends existing law regarding the hiring practices of healthcare providers, specifically concerning unlicensed healthcare workers and licensed ambulance personnel. The bill prohibits employers from hiring individuals who have been convicted of certain criminal offenses, which now includes additional offenses such as aggravated kidnapping of a child, felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, molestation of a juvenile or a person with a disability, and cruelty to juveniles. Furthermore, the bill expands the scope of disqualifying convictions to include federal offenses and offenses from other states that would meet the criteria of the specified Louisiana offenses.

Additionally, the bill repeals a section of the current law that previously outlined hiring prohibitions, thereby streamlining the regulations. It mandates that if a criminal history check reveals a disqualifying conviction, the employer must terminate the individual's employment immediately. The changes aim to enhance the safety and integrity of healthcare services by ensuring that individuals with serious criminal backgrounds are not employed in positions that could pose a risk to vulnerable populations, particularly minors.

Statutes affected:
HB414 Original: 40:3(A)(1), 40:3(B)