Act No. 135
Public Acts of 2008
Approved by the Governor
May 21, 2008
Filed with the Secretary of State
May 21, 2008
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 21, 2008
STATE OF MICHIGAN
94TH LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2008
Introduced by Reps. Jackson and Alma Smith
ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 5894
AN ACT to amend 1979 PA 218, entitled "An act to provide for the licensing and regulation of adult foster care facilities; to provide for the establishment of standards of care for adult foster care facilities; to prescribe powers and duties of the department of social services and other departments; to prescribe certain fees; to prescribe penalties; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts," by amending section 34b (MCL 400.734b), as added by 2006 PA 29.
The People of the State of Michigan enact:
Sec. 34b. (1) In addition to the restrictions prescribed in sections 13, 22, and 31, and except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), an adult foster care facility shall not employ or independently contract with an individual who regularly has direct access to or provides direct services to residents of the adult foster care facility after April 1, 2006 if the individual satisfies 1 or more of the following:
(a) Has been convicted of a relevant crime described under 42 USC 1320a-7.
(b) Has been convicted of any of the following felonies, an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of those felonies, or any other state or federal crime that is similar to the felonies described in this subdivision, other than a felony for a relevant crime described under 42 USC 1320a-7, unless 15 years have lapsed since the individual completed all of the terms and conditions of his or her sentencing, parole, and probation for that conviction prior to the date of application for employment or the date of the execution of the independent contract:
(i) A felony that involves the intent to cause death or serious impairment of a body function, that results in death or serious impairment of a body function, that involves the use of force or violence, or that involves the threat of the use of force or violence.
(ii) A felony involving cruelty or torture.
(iii) A felony under chapter XXA of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145m to 750.145r.
(iv) A felony involving criminal sexual conduct.
(v) A felony involving abuse or neglect.
(vi) A felony involving the use of a firearm or dangerous weapon.
(vii) A felony involving the diversion or adulteration of a prescription drug or other medications.
(c) Has been convicted of a felony or an attempt or conspiracy to commit a felony, other than a felony for a relevant crime described under 42 USC 1320a-7 or a felony described under subdivision (b), unless 10 years have lapsed since the individual completed all of the terms and conditions of his or her sentencing, parole, and probation for that conviction prior to the date of application for employment or the date of the execution of the independent contract.
(d) Has been convicted of any of the following misdemeanors, other than a misdemeanor for a relevant crime described under 42 USC 1320a-7, or a state or federal crime that is substantially similar to the misdemeanors described in this subdivision, within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of application for employment or the date of the execution of the independent contract:
(i) A misdemeanor involving the use of a firearm or dangerous weapon with the intent to injure, the use of a firearm or dangerous weapon that results in a personal injury, or a misdemeanor involving the use of force or violence or the threat of the use of force or violence.
(ii) A misdemeanor under chapter XXA of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145m to 750.145r.
(iii) A misdemeanor involving criminal sexual conduct.
(iv) A misdemeanor involving cruelty or torture unless otherwise provided under subdivision (e).
(v) A misdemeanor involving abuse or neglect.
(e) Has been convicted of any of the following misdemeanors, other than a misdemeanor for a relevant crime described under 42 USC 1320a-7, or a state or federal crime that is substantially similar to the misdemeanors described in this subdivision, within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of application for employment or the date of the execution of the independent contract:
(i) A misdemeanor involving cruelty if committed by an individual who is less than 16 years of age.
(ii) A misdemeanor involving home invasion.
(iii) A misdemeanor involving embezzlement.
(iv) A misdemeanor involving negligent homicide.
(v) A misdemeanor involving larceny unless otherwise provided under subdivision (g).
(vi) A misdemeanor of retail fraud in the second degree unless otherwise provided under subdivision (g).
(vii) Any other misdemeanor involving assault, fraud, theft, or the possession or delivery of a controlled substance unless otherwise provided under subdivision (d), (f), or (g).
(f) Has been convicted of any of the following misdemeanors, other than a misdemeanor for a relevant crime described under 42 USC 1320a-7, or a state or federal crime that is substantially similar to the misdemeanors described in this subdivision, within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of application for employment or the date of the execution of the independent contract:
(i) A misdemeanor for assault if there was no use of a firearm or dangerous weapon and no intent to commit murder or inflict great bodily injury.
(ii) A misdemeanor of retail fraud in the third degree unless otherwise provided under subdivision (g).
(iii) A misdemeanor under part 74 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401 to 333.7461, unless otherwise provided under subdivision (g).
(g) Has been convicted of any of the following misdemeanors, other than a misdemeanor for a relevant crime described under 42 USC 1320a-7, or a state or federal crime that is substantially similar to the misdemeanors described in this subdivision, within the year immediately preceding the date of application for employment or the date of the execution of the independent contract:
(i) A misdemeanor under part 74 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401 to 333.7461, if the individual, at the time of conviction, is under the age of 18.
(ii) A misdemeanor for larceny or retail fraud in the second or third degree if the individual, at the time of conviction, is under the age of 16.
(h) Is the subject of an order or disposition under section 16b of chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.16b.
(i) Has been the subject of a substantiated finding of neglect, abuse, or misappropriation of property by a state or federal agency according to an investigation conducted in accordance with 42 USC 1395i-3 or 1396r.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6), an adult foster care facility shall not employ or independently contract with an individual who has direct access to residents after April 1, 2006 until the adult foster care facility conducts a criminal history check in compliance with subsections (4) and (5). This subsection and subsection (1) do not apply to an individual who is employed by or under contract to an adult foster care facility before April 1, 2006. Beginning April 1, 2009, an individual who is exempt under this subsection shall provide the department of state police a set of fingerprints and the department of state police shall input those fingerprints into the automated fingerprint identification system database established under subsection (12). An individual who is exempt under this subsection is not limited to working within the adult foster care facility with which he or she is employed by or under independent contract with on April 1, 2006. That individual may transfer to another adult foster care facility that is under the same ownership with which he or she was employed or under contract. If that individual wishes to transfer to an adult foster care facility that is not under the same ownership, he or she may do so provided that a criminal history check is conducted by the new facility in accordance with subsection (4). If an individual who is exempt under this subsection is subsequently convicted of a crime or offense described under subsection (1)(a) to (g) or found to be the subject of a substantiated finding described under subsection (1)(i) or an order or disposition described under subsection (1)(h), or is found to have been convicted of a relevant crime described under subsection (1)(a), he or she is no longer exempt and shall be terminated from employment or denied employment.
(3) An individual who applies for employment either as an employee or as an independent contractor with an adult foster care facility and has received a good faith offer of employment or independent contract from the adult foster care facility shall give written consent at the time of application for the department of state police to conduct an initial criminal history check under this section. The individual, at the time of initial application, shall provide identification acceptable to the department of state police.
(4) Upon receipt of the written consent and identification required under subsection (3), the adult foster care facility that has made a good faith offer of employment or independent contract shall make a request to the department of state police to conduct a criminal history check on the individual and input the individual's fingerprints into the automated fingerprint identification system database, and shall make a request to the relevant licensing or regulatory department to perform a check of all relevant registries established according to federal and state law and regulations for any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property. The request shall be made in a manner prescribed by the department of state police and the relevant licensing or regulatory department or agency. The adult foster care facility shall make the written consent and identification available to the department of state police and the relevant licensing or regulatory department or agency. If the department of state police or the federal bureau of investigation charges a fee for conducting the initial criminal history check, the charge shall be paid by or reimbursed by the department with federal funds as provided to implement a pilot program for national and state background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers in accordance with section 307 of the medicare prescription drug, improvement, and modernization act of 2003, Public Law 108-173. The adult foster care facility shall not seek reimbursement for a charge imposed by the department of state police or the federal bureau of investigation from the individual who is the subject of the initial criminal history check. The department of state police shall conduct an initial criminal history check on the individual named in the request. The department of state police shall provide the department with a written report of the criminal history check conducted under this subsection that contains a criminal record. The report shall contain any criminal history record information on the individual maintained by the department of state police.
(5) Upon receipt of the written consent and identification required under subsection (3), if the individual has applied for employment either as an employee or as an independent contractor with an adult foster care facility, the adult foster care facility that has made a good faith offer of employment or independent contract shall comply with subsection (4) and shall make a request to the department of state police to forward the individual's fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation. The department of state police shall request the federal bureau of investigation to make a determination of the existence of any national criminal history pertaining to the individual. An individual described in this subsection shall provide the department of state police with a set of fingerprints. The department of state police shall complete the criminal history check under subsection (4) and, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, provide the results of its determination under subsection (4) and the results of the federal bureau of investigation determination to the department within 30 days after the request is made. If the requesting adult foster care facility is not a state department or agency and if a criminal conviction is disclosed on the written report of the criminal history check obtained under subsection (4) or the federal bureau of investigation determination, the department shall notify the adult foster care facility and the individual in writing of the type of crime disclosed on the written report of the criminal history check obtained under subsection (4) or the federal bureau of investigation determination without disclosing the details of the crime. The notification shall inform the facility or agency and the applicant regarding the appeal process in section 34c. Any charges imposed by the department of state police or the federal bureau of investigation for conducting an initial criminal history check or making a determination under this subsection shall be paid in the manner required under subsection (4).
(6) If an adult foster care facility determines it necessary to employ or independently contract with an individual before receiving the results of the individual's criminal history check required under this section, the adult foster care facility may conditionally employ the individual if both of the following apply:
(a) The adult foster care facility requests the criminal history check required under this section, upon conditionally employing the individual.
(b) The individual signs a written statement indicating all of the following:
(i) That he or she has not been convicted of 1 or more of the crimes that are described in subsection (1)(a) to (g) within the applicable time period prescribed by subsection (1)(a) to (g).
(ii) That he or she is not the subject of an order or disposition described in subsection (1)(h).
(iii) That he or she has not been the subject of a substantiated finding as described in subsection (1)(i).
(iv) The individual agrees that, if the information in the criminal history check conducted under this section does not confirm the individual's statement under subparagraphs (i) to (iii), his or her employment will be terminated by the adult foster care facility as required under subsection (1) unless and until the individual can prove that the information is incorrect.
(v) That he or she understands the conditions described in subparagraphs (i) to (iv) that result in the termination of his or her employment and that those conditions are good cause for termination.
(7) The department shall develop and distribute the model form for the statement required under subsection (6)(b). The department shall make the model form available to adult foster care facilities upon request at no charge.
(8) If an individual is conditionally employed under subsection (6), and the report described in subsection (4) or (5), if applicable, does not confirm the individual's statement under subsection (6)(b)(i) to (iii), the adult foster care facility shall terminate the individual's employment as required by subsection (1).
(9) An individual who knowingly provides false information regarding his or her identity, criminal convictions, or substantiated findings on a statement described in subsection (6)(b)(i) to (iii) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
(10) An adult foster care facility shall use criminal history record information obtained under subsection (4) or (5) only for the purpose of evaluating an individual's qualifications for employment in the position for which he or she has applied and for the purposes of subsections (6) and (8). An adult foster care facility or an employee of the adult foster care facility shall not disclose criminal history record information obtained under this section to a person who is not directly involved in evaluating the individual's qualifications for employment or independent contract. An individual who knowingly uses or disseminates the criminal history record information obtained under subsection (4) or (5) in violation of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both. Upon written request from another adult foster care facility, psychiatric facility or intermediate care facility for people with mental retardation, or health facility or agency that is considering employing or independently contracting with an individual, an adult foster care facility that has obtained criminal history record information under this section on that individual shall, with the consent of the applicant, share the information with the requesting adult foster care facility, psychiatric facility or intermediate care facility for people with mental retardation, or health facility or agency. Except for a knowing or intentional release of false information, an adult foster care facility has no liability in connection with a background check conducted under this section or the release of criminal history record information under this subsection.
(11) As a condition of continued employment, each employee or independent contractor shall do both of the following:
(a) Agree in writing to report to the adult foster care facility immediately upon being arraigned on 1 or more of the criminal offenses listed in subsection (1)(a) to (g), upon being convicted of 1 or more of the criminal offenses listed in subsection (1)(a) to (g), upon becoming the subject of an order or disposition described under subsection (1)(h), and upon becoming the subject of a substantiated finding described under subsection (1)(i). Reporting of an arraignment under this subdivision is not cause for termination or denial of employment.
(b) If a set of fingerprints is not already on file with the department of state police, provide the department of state police with a set of fingerprints.
(12) In addition to sanctions set forth in this act, a licensee, owner, administrator, or operator of an adult foster care facility who knowingly and willfully fails to conduct the criminal history checks as required under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(13) In collaboration with the department of state police, the department of information technology shall establish an automated fingerprint identification system database that would allow the department of state police to store and maintain all fingerprints submitted under this section and would provide for an automatic notification at the time a subsequent criminal arrest fingerprint card submitted into the system matches a set of fingerprints previously submitted in accordance with this section. Upon such notification, the department of state police shall immediately notify the department and the department shall immediately contact the respective adult foster care facility with which that individual is associated. Information in the database established under this subsection is confidential, is not subject to disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, and shall not be disclosed to any person except for purposes of this act or for law enforcement purposes.
(14) If an individual independently contracts with an adult foster care facility, subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if the contractual work performed by the individual is not directly related to the clinical, health care, or personal services delivered by the adult foster care facility or if the individual's duties are not performed on an ongoing basis with direct access to residents. This exception includes, but is not limited to, an individual who independently contracts with the adult foster care facility to provide utility, maintenance, construction, or communication services.
(15) The department and the department of state police shall maintain an electronic web-based system to assist the adult foster care facilities required to check relevant registries and conduct criminal history checks of its employees and independent contractors and to provide for an automated notice to the adult foster care facilities for the individuals entered in the system who, since the initial check, have been convicted of a disqualifying offense or have been the subject of a substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property.
(16) The department shall submit to the legislature not later than April 1, 2009 a written report regarding the department's plan to continue performing criminal history checks if adequate federal funding is not available to continue performing future criminal history checks.
(17) An adult foster care facility or a prospective employee covered under this section may not be charged for the cost of an initial criminal history check required under this act.
(18) As used in this section:
(a) "Direct access" means access to a resident or resident's property, financial information, medical records, treatment information, or any other identifying information.
(b) "Health facility or agency" means a health facility or agency as defined in section 20106 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.20106.
(c) "Independent contract" means a contract entered into by an adult foster care facility with an individual who provides the contracted services independently or a contract entered into by an adult foster care facility with an organization or agency that employs or contracts with an individual after complying with the requirements of this section to provide the contracted services to the adult foster care facility on behalf of the organization or agency.
(d) "Title XIX" means title XIX of the social security act, 42 USC 1396 to 1396r-6 and 1396r-8 to 1396v.
This act is ordered to take immediate effect.
Clerk of the House of Representatives
Secretary of the Senate
Approved
Governor