House Bill No. 414, introduced by Representative Chenevert, aims to amend existing laws regarding the hiring of healthcare staff, specifically focusing on unlicensed healthcare workers. The bill mandates that employers conduct criminal history and security checks before hiring nonlicensed individuals who provide health-related services. It prohibits the hiring of these individuals if they have been convicted of certain specified offenses, including both state and federal crimes that are substantially similar to those listed in the law. Additionally, the bill removes licensed ambulance personnel from the hiring prohibitions, thereby allowing healthcare providers to hire them regardless of certain criminal convictions.

The bill also introduces new provisions for hospitals, allowing them to obtain criminal history checks through third-party consumer reporting agencies, rather than solely through the state police. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining confidentiality regarding the results of these checks and requires employers to document their compliance with the new regulations. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the safety and integrity of healthcare services by ensuring that individuals with certain criminal backgrounds are not employed in positions that involve direct patient care.

Statutes affected:
HB414 Original: 40:3(A)(1), 40:3(B)
HB414 Engrossed: 40:1(6), 40:2(A), 40:3(A)(1), 40:1(4), 40:3(B)