Summary
CRIMINAL RECORDS BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR EMPLOYEES IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
Ask your legislators to strongly support implementation of a method to provide
criminal records background checks, both state and national, for all employees
of adult care homes, nursing homes, and home health agencies. The four-year moratorium
on requiring checks should be lifted.
Background
A moratorium was placed on carrying out legislation calling for criminal records
checks for long-term care facility employees because the FBI will provide national
records only to a state agency. After four years of the moratorium, the Legislative
Study Commission on Aging is recommending an unnecessary pilot project to provide
checks.
Talking points
The state already provides background checks for child care workers and should
provide the resources for checks for direct and indirect care workers in facilities
for vulnerable and frail elderly and disabled persons.
Implementation need not wait for a pilot project, since new information is
not needed. Models for providing checks exist in Florida and Mississippi, as well
as in North Carolina. The cost of protections for the elderly is not great.
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