RCW 74.39A.056 Background checks on long-term care workers.

(1)(a) All long-term care workers shall be screened through state and federal background checks in a uniform and timely manner to verify that they do not have a history that would disqualify them from working with vulnerable persons. The department must process background checks for long-term care workers and make the information available to employers, prospective employers, and others as authorized by law.

(b)(i) Except as provided in (b)(ii) of this subsection, for long-term care workers hired on or after January 7, 2012, the background checks required under this section shall include checking against the federal bureau of investigation fingerprint identification records system and against the national sex offenders registry or their successor programs. The department shall require these long-term care workers to submit fingerprints for the purpose of investigating conviction records through both the Washington state patrol and the federal bureau of investigation. The department shall not pass on the cost of these criminal background checks to the workers or their employers.

(ii) This subsection does not apply to long-term care workers employed by community residential service businesses until January 1, 2016.

(c) The department shall share state and federal background check results with the department of health in accordance with RCW 18.88B.080.

(d) Background check screening required under this section and department rules is not required for an employee of a consumer directed employer if all of the following circumstances apply:

(i) The individual has an individual provider contract with the department;

(ii) The last background check on the contracted individual provider is still valid under department rules and did not disqualify the individual from providing personal care services;

(iii) Employment by the consumer directed employer is the only reason a new background check would be required; and

(iv) The department's background check results have been shared with the consumer directed employer.

(2) No provider, or its staff, or long-term care worker, or prospective provider or long-term care worker, with a stipulated finding of fact, conclusion of law, an agreed order, or finding of fact, conclusion of law, or final order issued by a disciplining authority or a court of law or entered into a state registry with a final substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment of a minor or a vulnerable adult as defined in chapter 74.34 RCW shall be employed in the care of and have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults.

(3) The department shall establish, by rule, a state registry which contains identifying information about long-term care workers identified under this chapter who have final substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or abandonment of a vulnerable adult as defined in RCW 74.34.020. The rule must include disclosure, disposition of findings, notification, findings of fact, appeal rights, and fair hearing requirements. The department shall disclose, upon request, final substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or abandonment to any person so requesting this information. This information must also be shared with the department of health to advance the purposes of chapter 18.88B RCW.

(4) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.

[ 2018 c 278 § 8; 2012 c 164 § 503; 2012 c 1 § 101 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

NOTES:

Findings—Intent—2018 c 278: See note following RCW 74.39A.500.

Finding—Intent—Rules—Effective date—2012 c 164: See notes following RCW 18.88B.010.

Intent—Findings—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): "It is the intent of the people through this initiative to protect vulnerable elderly and people with disabilities by reinstating the requirement that all long-term care workers obtain criminal background checks and adequate training. The people of the state of Washington find as follows:

(1) The state legislature proposes to eliminate the requirement that long-term care workers obtain criminal background checks and adequate training, which would jeopardize the safety and quality care of vulnerable elderly and persons with disabilities. Should the legislature take this action, this initiative will reinstate these critical protections for vulnerable elderly and persons with disabilities; and

(2) Taxpayers' investment will be protected by requiring regular program audits, including fraud investigations, and capping administrative expenses." [2012 c 1 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

Performance audits—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): "The state auditor shall conduct performance audits of the long-term in-home care program. The first audit must be completed within twelve months after January 7, 2012, and must be completed on a biennial basis thereafter. As part of this auditing process, the state shall hire five additional fraud investigators to ensure that clients receiving services at taxpayers' expense are medically and financially qualified to receive the services and are actually receiving the services." [ 2012 c 164 § 709; 2012 c 1 § 201 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

Spending limits—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): "The people hereby establish limits on the percentage of tax revenues that can be used for administrative expenses in the long-term in-home care program. Within one hundred eighty days of January 7, 2012, the state shall prepare a plan to cap administrative expenses so that at least ninety percent of taxpayer spending must be devoted to direct care. This limitation must be achieved within two years from January 7, 2012." [2012 c 1 § 202 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

Contingent effective dates—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): "(1) Sections 101 and 115(6) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.055 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(2) Sections 102 and 115(10) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.260 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(3) Sections 103 and 115(1) of this act only take effect if RCW 18.88B.020 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(4) Sections 104 and 115(2) of this act only take effect if RCW 18.88B.030 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(5) Sections 105 and 115(3) of this act only take effect if RCW 18.88B.040 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(6) Sections 106 and 115(5) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.050 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(7) Sections 107 and 115(7) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.073 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(8) Sections 108 and 115(8) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.075 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(9) Sections 109 and 115(9) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.085 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(10) Sections 110 and 115(11) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.310 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(11) Sections 111 and 115(12) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.330 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(12) Sections 112 and 115(13) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.340 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(13) Sections 113 and 115(14) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.350 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(14) Sections 114 and 115(4) of this act only take effect if RCW 74.39A.009 is amended or repealed by the legislature in 2011.

(15) Section 303 of this act takes effect only if one or more other sections of this act take effect pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (14) of this section." [2012 c 1 § 301 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

Application—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): "Notwithstanding any action of the legislature during 2011, all long-term care workers as defined under RCW 74.39A.009(16), as it existed on April 1, 2011, are covered by sections 101 through 113 of this act or by the corresponding original versions of the statutes, as referenced in section 302 (1) through (13) on the schedules set forth in those sections, as amended by chapter 164, Laws of 2012, except that long-term care workers employed by community residential service businesses are exempt to the extent provided in RCW 18.88B.041, 74.39A.056, 74.39A.074, 74.39A.331, 74.39A.341, and 74.39A.351." [ 2012 c 164 § 710; 2012 c 1 § 303 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

Construction—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): "The provisions of this act are to be liberally construed to effectuate the intent, policies, and purposes of this act." [2012 c 1 § 305 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

Effective date—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): "This act takes effect sixty days from its *enactment by the people [January 7, 2012]." [2012 c 1 § 307 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

*Reviser's note: Initiative Measure No. 1163 was approved by a vote of the people November 8, 2011. The secretary of state has determined that the effective date of Initiative Measure No. 1163 is January 7, 2012.

Short title—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): "This act may be known and cited as the restoring quality home care initiative." [2012 c 1 § 308 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]