The bill amends Section 40.1-25.1-3 of the General Laws regarding the requirements for criminal records checks for employees in facilities or programs licensed by the department. It introduces the option for applicants to apply for a national criminal records check through a qualified vendor, in addition to the existing options of the bureau of criminal identification of the state police or local police department. The bill also removes the previous stipulation that only organizations employing 250 or more employees were subject to certain requirements, thereby broadening the scope of the law to include smaller organizations.

Additionally, the bill mandates that criminal records checks be conducted every five years for continuous employment and specifies that employers must maintain evidence of these checks on file. It also clarifies that any costs associated with obtaining the criminal records check will no longer be the responsibility of the organization for those employing 250 or more employees. The act is set to take effect upon passage.