This bill aims to enhance public safety by transferring the responsibility for overseeing caregiver background checks from the Department of Health to the Health Care Authority. It introduces new provisions that expand the list of disqualifying felony convictions for caregivers, allowing the Health Care Authority to disqualify caregivers who pose an unreasonable risk to care recipients. The bill outlines the process for conducting nationwide criminal history screenings, including the submission of fingerprints, and establishes rules for administrative reconsideration for those disqualified.

Additionally, the bill mandates that all functions, records, and equipment related to caregiver criminal history records be transferred to the Health Care Authority upon the bill's effective date of July 1, 2025. It emphasizes the confidentiality of criminal history records and provides protections for care providers against civil liability when making employment decisions based on the results of these screenings. Overall, the legislation seeks to ensure a safer environment for care recipients by implementing stricter oversight and accountability measures for caregivers.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 29-17-5
JC substitute: 29-17-5
Final Version: 29-17-5