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 procedures for conducting nationwide criminal history screenings, including the submission of fingerprints and the establishment of rules for screening implementation, confidentiality, and appeals processes for disqualified individuals.

Additionally, the bill mandates that all functions, records, and equipment related to caregiver criminal history oversight be transferred to the Health Care Authority upon its effective date of July 1, 2025. It emphasizes the confidentiality of criminal history records and establishes that care providers are not civilly liable for employment decisions made in good faith based on the results of these screenings. The legislation aims to ensure a safer environment for care recipients by rigorously vetting caregivers and providing a clear framework for addressing disqualifications and appeals.

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