(1) All long-term care workers for the elderly or persons with disabilities hired after January 1, 2012, shall be screened through state and federal background checks in a uniform and timely manner to ensure that they do not have a criminal history that would disqualify them from working with vulnerable persons. These background checks 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.

     (2) To allow the department of health to satisfy its certification responsibilities under chapter 18.88B RCW, the department shall share state and federal background check results with the department of health. Neither department may share the federal background check results with any other state agency or person.

     (3) The department shall not pass on the cost of these criminal background checks to the workers or their employers.

     (4) The department shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section by August 1, 2010.

[2009 c 580 § 2; 2009 c 2 § 3 (Initiative Measure No. 1029, approved November 4, 2008).]

NOTES:

     Intent -- Findings -- Construction -- Severability -- Short title -- 2009 c 2 (Initiative Measure No. 1029): See notes following RCW 18.88B.020.