Connecticut Senate Bill SB00681

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/15
• Refer: 1/23/15

Caption

An Act Concerning Background Checks For Home Health Agency Employees.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would significantly enhance the current framework governing the employment practices of home health agencies. Requiring fingerprinting as part of employee background checks represents a stricter approach to ensuring that individuals with a history of criminal behavior do not have the opportunity to abuse or neglect the patients in their care. This aligns with broader public health objectives to promote safety within healthcare services and could result in increased trust from families seeking home health care services for their loved ones.

Summary

SB00681 is an act concerning background checks for employees of home health agencies. The primary objective of this bill is to amend existing regulations to require that background checks include fingerprinting. This change stems from growing concerns regarding the safety and welfare of patients receiving care at home, as employees in such environments have direct access to vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and disabled. By mandating fingerprinting as part of the vetting process, the bill aims to enhance the security protocols in place for hiring home health workers.

Contention

While the intent behind SB00681 is largely positive, there may be contentious points regarding the implementation and potential implications for home health agencies. Concerns could arise regarding the costs associated with conducting fingerprint checks, which may disproportionately affect smaller agencies with limited resources. Additionally, there could be debates regarding the fairness of background checks and how they may exclude qualified candidates based on past mistakes that are not relevant to current employment capabilities. Stakeholders in the home health sector may voice varying opinions on whether the benefits of enhanced safety outweigh the potential administrative burdens of compliance.