ADULT HOMES:  BACKGROUND CHECKS

Senate Bill 787 as passed by the Senate

Senate Bill 788 as passed by the Senate                        (Enacted as Public Acts 51 and 52 of 2012)

Sponsor:  Sen. Mike Nofs

House Committee:  Health Policy

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 2-21-12

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILLS 787 & 788 AS REPORTED BY HOUSE COMMITTEE

Under current law, certain individuals involved in the operation of a home for the aged or adult foster care facility who have regular direct access to residents or who have on-site facility operational responsibilities are required at the time of licensure to undergo state and federal criminal history background checks. 

Beginning on the effective dates of the bills, if one of these individuals had previously undergone a state criminal history check and a federal criminal records check and had been continuously licensed or continuously employed as specified in the relevant act since those checks were performed, the person would not have to submit to a subsequent criminal history check or criminal records check when applying for a license or a license renewal.

Senate Bill 787 would amend the Public Health Code (MCL 333.21212) to apply to an applicant, authorized representative, owner, operator, and member of the governing body of a home for the aged.  Senate Bill 788 would amend the Adult Foster Care Facility Licensing Act (MCL 400.713) to apply to an owner, partner, or director of an applicant of an AFC facility.  

The bills also contain language that clarifies that applicants for licensure must give written consent at the time of application for licensure for both a criminal history check (conducted by the Department of State Police) and a criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The bills add language requiring the Department of Human Services to require the appropriate individuals to submit fingerprints to the Department of State Police for the criminal history check and criminal records check.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bills would have no fiscal impact on the Department of Human Services.

POSITIONS:

The Michigan Department of Human Services supports the bills.  (2-16-12)

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:   Kevin Koorstra

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.