2017 -- H 5677

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LC000746

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives O`Grady, Serpa, Kennedy, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     (Attorney General)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 12-1.6-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-1.6 entitled "National

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Criminal Records Check System" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-1.6-1. Automated fingerprint identification system database.

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     The department of attorney general may establish and maintain an automated fingerprint

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identification system database that would allow the department to store and maintain all

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fingerprints submitted in accordance with the national criminal records check system. The

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automated fingerprint identification system database would provide for an automatic notification

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if, and when, a subsequent criminal arrest fingerprint card is submitted to the system that matches

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a set of fingerprints previously submitted in accordance with a national criminal records check. If

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the aforementioned arrest results in a conviction, the department shall immediately notify those

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individuals and entities with which that individual is associated and who are required to be

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notified of disqualifying information concerning national criminal records checks as provided in

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chapters 17, 17.4, 17.7.1, and 94 of title 23 or § 23-1-52. The information in the database

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established under this section is confidential and not subject to disclosure under chapter 38-2.

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     12-1.6-2. Long-term healthcare workers.

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     The department of attorney general shall maintain an electronic, web-based system to

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assist facilities, licensed under chapters 17, 17.4, 17.7.1, and 94 of title 23 or § 23-1-52, required

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to check relevant registries and conduct national criminal records checks of routine contact

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patient employees. The department of attorney general shall provide for an automated notice, as

 

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authorized in § 12-1.6-1, to those facilities if a routine-contact patient employee is subsequently

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convicted of a disqualifying offense, as described in the relevant licensing statute. The

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department of attorney general may charge a facility a one-time, set-up fee of up to one hundred

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dollars ($100) for access to the electronic web-based system under this section.

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     SECTION 2. Section 40-8.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-8.1 entitled "Personal

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Care Attendant Program" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     40-8.1-3. Eligibility for services.

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     Services available under this chapter may be provided to any person who meets the

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following criteria:

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     (1) Has made application therefor to the director of the department of human services in a

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manner prescribed by the director;

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     (2) Has a severe physical disability that caused the person to be unduly dependent, the

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disability to be certified by the division of vocational office of rehabilitation services; and

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     (3) Has not sufficient income or resources to meet the cost of home care services, a

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determination of insufficiency to be made by the division of vocational rehabilitation.

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     SECTION 3. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 94

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PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANT SERVICES

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     23-94-1. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Applicant" means a person applying with the department for a certificate of

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registration as a personal care assistant.

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     (2) "Activities of daily living" means hands on assistance with activities of daily living

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including, but not limited to, ambulation, transfer, toileting, and grooming.

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     (3) "Bureau of criminal identification" means the bureau of criminal identification of the

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department of attorney general.

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     (4) "Companionship" means and includes, but is not limited to, spending time with or

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caring for a consumer, accompanying a consumer on trips and outings, and providing necessary

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transportation to a consumer.

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     (5) "Consumer" means an individual who receives self-directed personal assistant care

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services, including, a participant in personal care attendant services provided pursuant to §40-8.1-

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2 or a person who receives personal care assistant services through Medicaid, a third-party payor,

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or paid for by the individual and/or their family. Consumer shall not include an individual who

 

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receives services similar to personal care assistant services for no compensation.

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     (6) "Department" means the department of health.

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     (7) "Disqualifying information" means information produced by a national criminal

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records check pertaining to a conviction for the following crimes: murder, manslaughter, first

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degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, third degree sexual assault, assault on persons

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sixty (60) years of age or older, assault with intent to commit specified felonies (murder, robbery,

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rape, burglary, or the abominable and detestable crime against nature), felony assault, patient

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abuse, neglect or mistreatment of patients, first degree arson, robbery, felony drug offenses,

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larceny, abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of adults with severe impairments, fraud and false

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dealing, theft, embezzlement, false pretenses, misappropriation, impersonation and identity fraud,

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exploitation of elders, or felony banking law violations. For purposes of this subsection

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"conviction" means, in addition to judgments of conviction entered by a court subsequent to a

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finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, those instances where the defendant has entered a plea of

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nolo contendere and has received a sentence of probation and those instances where a defendant

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has entered into a deferred sentence agreement with the attorney general.

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     (8) "Employer" means the consumer unless the personal care assistant is employed by a

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third party, in such cases the third party is the employer.

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     (9) "Family caregiver" means any relative or partner providing personal care assistant

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services, whether financially compensated or not.

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     (10) "Homemaking" means performing household chores that includes, but is not limited

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to, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, shopping assistance, and routine household

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activities for a consumer.

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     (11) "Participant" means an individual approved by the department to receive self-

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directed personal care assistant services.

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     (12) "Personal care assistant" means an individual with appropriate training who receives

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financial compensation to provide personal care assistant services to a consumer and is not a

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family caregiver.

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     (13) "Personal care assistant services" means assistance with activities of daily living,

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homemaking, and companionship provided to a consumer that are intended to enable the

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consumer to remain safely and comfortably in their residence. Personal care assistant services

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does not include services provided by entities required to be licensed under the general laws

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including, but not limited to: education facilities (title 16); health care facilities (chapter 17 of title

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23); assisted living residences (chapter 17.4 of title 23); nursing service agencies (chapter 17.7.1

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of title 23); and/or behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals facilities

 

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(chapter 40.1-25.1).

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     (14) "Personal representative" means a person who, under applicable state law, has the

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authority to act on behalf of the consumer with regard to an action to be taken.

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     (15) "Registrant" means the lawful holder of a certificate of registration as a personal care

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assistant with the department.

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     (16) "Service plan" means a written list of the types and schedule of personal care

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assistant services prepared by the personal care assistant, or their designee, updated to reflect

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changes in needs or services as appropriate, but at least annually, that states the services to be

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provided to the consumer subject to the consumer's right to temporarily suspend, permanently

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terminate, temporarily add, or permanently add the provision of any such service.

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     23-94-2. Rights of consumers.

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     The department shall develop rights to be distributed to the consumer within five (5)

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calendar days of the initiation of services to the consumer and thereafter, on an annual basis.

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These rights include:

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     (1) The consumer's right to be free from verbal, physical and psychological abuse and to

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be treated with dignity;

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     (2) The consumer's right to temporarily or permanently suspend, terminate, or add the

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provision of any services stated in the service plan;

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     (3) The consumer's right to have property treated with respect;

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     (4) The consumer's right to voice grievances regarding services furnished or regarding

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the lack of respect for property by anyone who is furnishing services and that the consumer must

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not be subject to discrimination or reprisal for doing so;

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     (5) A statement that it is not within the scope of the services to manage the medical and

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health conditions of the consumers;

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     (6) The charges for services provided by the personal care assistant; and

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     (7) The procedure and contact information to file a complaint with the department.

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     23-94-3. Complaint process.

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     The department shall investigate complaints made by a consumer, the consumer's family,

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or the personal representative regarding services that are or have failed to be furnished or lack of

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respect for the consumer's property by the personal care assistant. The department shall document

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the existence of the complaint and the resolution of the complaint in accordance with the

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department's rules and regulations.

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     23-94-4. Registration.

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     (a) Every person being employed as a personal care assistant or offering services as a

 

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personal care assistant must obtain a certificate of registration issued by the department within

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their initial thirty (30) days of employment or of offering services.

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     (b) The department shall verify, prior to issuing a certificate of registration, that the

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applicant underwent a national criminal records check in accordance with §23-94-8 and

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successfully completed the training program in accordance with §23-94-7.

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     (c) The department shall register all those individuals issued a certificate of registration

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and the register shall be open to public inspection.

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     23-94-5. Renewal of certificate of registration.

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     Every registrant shall renew their certificate of registration biennially by making

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application to the department. Such forms shall be provided by the department. The renewals

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shall be granted as a matter of course provided that the registrant has proof of successful

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completion of the continuing education requirements as required by §23-94-7. The department

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shall not automatically renew the certificate of registration if the department finds that the

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registrant has acted or failed to act in a manner under the circumstances that would constitute

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grounds for suspension or revocation of a certificate of registration.

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     23-94-6. Grandfather clause.

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     After January 1, 2018 and at any time prior to March 31, 2018, the department shall issue

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a certificate of registration to any applicant who shall present satisfactory evidence that they have

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been employed as a personal care assistant in Rhode Island for a period of at least three hundred

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(300) hours and has underwent a national criminal records check in accordance with §23-94-8.

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     23-94-7. Personal care assistant training.

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     (a) The department shall be responsible for ensuring that all registrants have completed

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two (2) hours of initial training on personal care assistant responsibilities and practices, as

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prescribed by the department. In addition to the two (2) hours of initial training, each registrant

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shall receive individualized training on how to assist their consumer's needs.

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     (b) All applicants not otherwise exempted, under §23-94-6, are required to complete the

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process of training within thirty (30) days from the date of initiation of training. If the applicant

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fails to successfully complete the training within ninety (90) days, they must successfully repeat

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the training program.

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     23-94-8. National criminal records check.

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     (a) Any person applying for a certificate of registration as a personal care assistant shall

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undergo a national criminal records check to be initiated prior to applying for a certificate of

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registration.

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     (b) The applicant shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification for a national

 

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criminal records check that shall be supported by fingerprints submitted to the federal bureau of

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investigation ("FBI").

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     (1) Upon the discovery of any disqualifying information, the bureau of criminal

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identification shall inform the applicant, in writing, of the nature of the disqualifying information;

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and, without disclosing the nature of the disqualifying information, will notify the department, in

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writing, that disqualifying information has been discovered. The department may not deny a

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certificate of registration based on the existence of disqualifying information. However, the

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department shall alert the hiring consumer that disqualifying information has been discovered on

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a registrant's national criminal records check. The registrant about whom disqualifying

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information has been found may provide the consumer a copy of the national criminal records

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check. The consumer shall make a judgment regarding the employment or continued employment

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of a registrant.

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     (2) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau

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of criminal identification shall inform the applicant and the department, in writing.

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     (c) It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to pay for the national criminal records

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check.

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     23-94-9. Denial, suspension, or revocation of a certificate of registration.

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     The department, after notice and opportunity for a hearing to the applicant or registrant, is

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authorized to deny, suspend, or revoke a certificate of registration in any case in which it finds

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that there has been failure to comply with the requirements under this chapter and the rules and

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regulations promulgated thereto or the registrant has been convicted of an offense that is

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considered disqualifying information. The notice shall be effected by registered or certified mail

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or by personal service, setting forth the particular reasons for the proposed action and fixing a

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date not less than thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing or service, at which time the

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applicant or registrant shall be given an opportunity for a prompt and fair hearing, On the basis of

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the hearing, or upon the failure of the applicant or registrant to appear, the department shall make

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a determination specifying its findings of fact and conclusions of law. A copy of the

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determination shall be sent by registered or certified mail or served personally upon the applicant

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or registrant. The decision denying, suspending, or revoking the certificate of registration shall

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become final thirty (30) days after it is so mailed or served, unless the applicant or registrant,

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within the thirty (30) day period, appeals the decision pursuant to §42-35-15. The procedure

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governing hearings authorized by this section shall be in accordance with §§42-35-9 and 42-35-

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13 as stipulated in §42-35-14. A full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings, and all

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testimony shall be reported but need not be transcribed unless the decision is appealed pursuant to

 

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§42-35-15. A copy or copies of the transcript may be obtained by an interested party on payment

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of the cost of preparing the copy or copies. Witnesses may be subpoenaed by either party.

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     23-94-10. Judicial review of certificate of registration action.

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     Any person who has exhausted all administrative remedies available to them within the

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department, and who is aggrieved by a final decision of the department, is entitled to judicial

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review in accordance with the provisions of §§42-35-15 and 42-35-16.

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     23-94-11. Immunity from liability.

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     No person who disqualifies an individual from employment or continued employment

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within thirty (30) days of receipt of a letter containing disqualifying information or of a national

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criminal records check relating to that information shall be liable for civil damages or subject to

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any claim, cause of action, or proceeding of any nature as a result of the disqualification.

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     23-94-12. Inspections and investigations.

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     The department may conduct any such investigation or inspection as it deems necessary

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to assess compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations promulgated thereto.

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Wherever possible and practical, on-site reviews shall be scheduled, in an effort so as to reduce

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the number of visits and the disruption to the personal care assistant services. Investigations and

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inspections may occur including the direct observation of the provision of personal care assistant

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services. Registrants shall make available to the department all books, records, policies and

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procedures, or any other materials requested during the course of an investigation or inspection.

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Refusal to make materials available to the department shall be grounds for certificate of

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registration revocation, or the imposition of any other penalty provided in the chapter.

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     23-94-13. Rules and regulations.

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     The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the intent of this

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chapter.

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     23-94-14. Penalties of violations.

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     It shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars

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($1,000), by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, for any person to:

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     (1) Be employed as a personal care assistant or offer services as a personal care assistant

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without a certificate of registration as required by this chapter;

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     (2) Practice as a personal care assistant during the time their certification of registration

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issued under the provisions of this chapter is suspended or revoked; or

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     (3) Obtain their certification of registration by means of fraud, misrepresentation, or

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concealment of material facts.

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     23-94-15. Severability.

 

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     If any provision of this chapter or the application of any provision of this chapter to any

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person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the provisions or

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application of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application,

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and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared severable.

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     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2018.

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LC000746

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

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     This act would require registration and criminal background checks of individuals who

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provide personal care assistant services.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2018.

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LC000746

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