130th Ohio General Assembly
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As Passed by the Senate

122nd General Assembly
Regular Session
1997-1998
Sub. H. B. No. 18

REPRESENTATIVES TAYLOR-GARDNER-TERWILLEGER-FOX-GARCIA-MASON- MYERS-PRENTISS-CORBIN-THOMPSON-VESPER-HARRIS-O'BRIEN-ROMAN- JOHNSON-METZGER-AMSTUTZ-OLMAN-MOTTL-REID-
SENATORS CUPP-BLESSING-LATTA


A BILL
To amend sections 173.41, 3701.881, 3712.09, 3721.121, and 3722.151 and to enact section 109.97 of the Revised Code to require the Attorney General to annually prepare and file with specified individuals a capital case status report and to modify the law requiring criminal records checks of applicants for positions with specified entities that involve the provision of direct care to an older adult by permitting in specified circumstances the conditional employment of an applicant for such a position who is referred by an employment service, by waiving the criminal records check requirement under the "personal character standards" exception for a person who is referred by an employment service but has been convicted of a disqualifying offense, and by making available to persons involved in a case dealing with employment or unemployment benefits of the applicant the report of such a criminal records check.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:


Section 1. That sections 173.41, 3701.881, 3712.09, 3721.121, and 3722.151 be amended and section 109.97 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 109.97. (A) AS USED IN THIS SECTION:

(1) "COMMUTATION," "PARDON," "PRISONER," AND "STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION" HAVE THE SAME MEANINGS AS IN SECTION 2967.01 OF THE REVISED CODE.

(2) "INDIVIDUAL'S PRESENT LEGAL STATUS" MEANS WHICHEVER OF THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES APPLY ON THE THIRTY-FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR COVERED BY A CAPITAL CASE STATUS REPORT DESCRIBED IN DIVISIONS (B) AND (C) OF THIS SECTION TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2929.02 TO 2929.04 OR SECTION 2929.06 of the Revised Code FOR AN AGGRAVATED MURDER COMMITTED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 19, 1981:

(a) THE INDIVIDUAL WAS EXECUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2949.22 of the Revised Code FOR THE AGGRAVATED MURDER, OR THE INDIVIDUAL OTHERWISE IS DECEASED.

(b) THE INDIVIDUAL CONTINUES TO BE CONFINED IN A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION WAITING FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE SENTENCE OF DEATH.

(c) THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM CONFINEMENT IN A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION PURSUANT TO A PARDON GRANTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGGRAVATED MURDER, OR THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN GRANTED A COMMUTATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGGRAVATED MURDER AND HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM CONFINEMENT OR IS SERVING A PRISON TERM OR SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT PURSUANT TO THE COMMUTATION.

(d) THE INDIVIDUAL HAS HAD THE SENTENCE OF DEATH VACATED OR REVERSED ON APPEAL OR PURSUANT TO DIVISION (C) OF SECTION 2929.05 of the Revised Code OR OTHERWISE HAS BEEN RELIEVED OF THE SENTENCE OF DEATH BY A COURT OF THIS STATE OR THE UNITED STATES.

(e) THE INDIVIDUAL HAS HAD THE SENTENCE OF DEATH VACATED AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 2929.06 OF THE REVISED CODE OR OTHERWISE, THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN RESENTENCED PURSUANT TO THAT SECTION OR OTHERWISE TO A SENTENCE OTHER THAN A SENTENCE OF DEATH, AND THE INDIVIDUAL IS A PRISONER SERVING A PRISON TERM OR SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT IN A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION.

(f) THE INDIVIDUAL IS CONFINED IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OF ANOTHER STATE OR THE UNITED STATES FOR THE COMMISSION OF ANOTHER OFFENSE OR HAS BEEN EXECUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A SENTENCE OF DEATH IMPOSED BY A COURT OF ANOTHER STATE OR THE UNITED STATES FOR THE COMMISSION OF ANOTHER OFFENSE.

(g) THE INDIVIDUAL HAS ESCAPED FROM CONFINEMENT IN A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OR A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OF ANOTHER STATE OR THE UNITED STATES AND CURRENTLY IS AT-LARGE.

(B) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNUALLY SHALL PREPARE OR CAUSE TO BE PREPARED A CAPITAL CASE STATUS REPORT THAT PERTAINS TO ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2929.02 TO 2929.04 OR SECTION 2929.06 of the Revised Code FOR AN AGGRAVATED MURDER COMMITTED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 19, 1981, AND THAT CONTAINS FOR EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(1) OF THIS SECTION. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL FILE A COPY OF EACH ANNUAL CAPITAL CASE STATUS REPORT WITH THE GOVERNOR, THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NO LATER THAN THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL OF THE CALENDAR YEAR FOLLOWING THE CALENDAR YEAR COVERED BY THE REPORT. EACH ANNUAL CAPITAL CASE STATUS REPORT SHALL BE A PUBLIC RECORD SUBJECT TO INSPECTION AND COPYING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 149.43 OF THE REVISED CODE.

(C)(1) AN ANNUAL CAPITAL CASE STATUS REPORT PREPARED PURSUANT TO DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION SHALL CONTAIN ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION THAT PERTAINS AS OF THE THIRTY-FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR COVERED BY THE REPORT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2929.02 TO 2929.04 OR 2929.06 OF THE REVISED CODE FOR AN AGGRAVATED MURDER COMMITTED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 19, 1981:

(a) A CITATION TO AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FACTS OF EACH CASE IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2929.02 TO 2929.04 OR SECTION 2929.06 OF THE REVISED CODE FOR AN AGGRAVATED MURDER COMMITTED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 19, 1981;

(b) A STATEMENT AS TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S PRESENT LEGAL STATUS;

(c) A SUMMARY HISTORY OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S LEGAL ACTIONS TO VACATE, REVERSE, OR OTHERWISE BE RELIEVED FROM THE SENTENCE OF DEATH DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(1)(a) OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, MOTIONS TO VACATE THE SENTENCE OF DEATH, APPEALS, PETITIONS FOR POSTCONVICTION RELIEF, AND PETITIONS FOR HABEAS CORPUS RELIEF FILED WITH A COURT OF THIS STATE OR A COURT OF THE UNITED STATES UNDER SECTION 2929.05, 2953.21, OR ANOTHER SECTION OF THE REVISED CODE, THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, FEDERAL STATUTES, OR THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION;

(d) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DETERMINES IS RELEVANT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED DATE FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S SENTENCE OF DEATH IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2949.22 OF THE REVISED CODE.

(2) IN EACH ANNUAL CAPITAL CASE STATUS REPORT PREPARED PURSUANT TO DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL SET FORTH OR CAUSE TO BE SET FORTH THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(1) OF THIS SECTION IN THE FORM THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONSIDERS MOST APPROPRIATE TO PRESENT THAT INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CHARTS, TABLES, GRAPHS, AND NARRATIVE SUMMARIES.

(D) ALL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THIS STATE AND ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS SHALL COOPERATE, UPON REQUEST OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IN PROVIDING INFORMATION THAT FACILITATES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS SECTION.

Sec. 173.41. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Applicant" means a person who is under final consideration for employment with a PASSPORT agency in a full-time, part-time, or temporary position that involves providing direct care to an older adult. "Applicant" does not include a person who provides direct care as a volunteer without receiving or expecting to receive any form of remuneration other than reimbursement for actual expenses.

(2) "Criminal records check" and "older adult" have the same meanings as in section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(3) "PASSPORT agency" means a public or private entity that provides home and community-based services to older adults through the PASSPORT program created under section 173.40 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, the chief administrator of a PASSPORT agency shall request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check with respect to each applicant. If the AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION does not present proof of having been a resident of this state for the five-year period immediately prior to the date the criminal records check is requested or provide evidence that within that five-year period the superintendent has requested information about the applicant from the federal bureau of investigation in a criminal records check, the chief administrator shall request that the superintendent obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation as part of the criminal records check of the applicant. Even if the AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION presents proof of having been a resident of this state for the five-year period, the chief administrator may request that the superintendent include information from the federal bureau of investigation in the criminal records check.

(2) A person required by division (B)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall do both of the following:

(a) Provide to each applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THAT DIVISION a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and a standard fingerprint impression sheet prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section, and obtain the completed form and impression sheet from the applicant;

(b) Forward the completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

(3) An applicant provided the form and fingerprint impression sheet under division (B)(2)(a) of this section who fails to complete the form or provide fingerprint impressions shall not be employed in any position for which a criminal records check is required by this section.

(C)(1) Except as provided in rules adopted by the department of aging in accordance with division (F) of this section AND SUBJECT TO DIVISION (C)(2) OF THIS SECTION, no PASSPORT agency shall employ a person in a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult if the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code.

(b) An A VIOLATION OF AN existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (C)(1)(a) of this section.

(2)(a) A PASSPORT agency may employ CONDITIONALLY an applicant conditionally FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION prior to obtaining the results of a criminal records check regarding the individual. The, PROVIDED THAT THE agency shall request a criminal records check REGARDING THE INDIVIDUAL in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section not later than five business days after the individual begins conditional employment. The agency IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OF THIS SECTION, A PASSPORT AGENCY MAY EMPLOY CONDITIONALLY AN APPLICANT WHO HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE PASSPORT AGENCY BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND FOR WHOM, PURSUANT TO THAT DIVISION, A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION.

(b) A PASSPORT AGENCY THAT EMPLOYS AN INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONALLY UNDER AUTHORITY OF DIVISION (C)(2)(a) OF THIS SECTION shall terminate the individual's employment if the results of the criminal records check REQUEST UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OF THIS SECTION, other than the results of any request for information from the federal bureau of investigation, are not obtained within the period ending sixty days after the date the request is made. Regardless of when the results of the criminal records check are obtained, if the results indicate that the individual has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section, the agency shall terminate the individual's employment unless the agency chooses to employ the individual pursuant to division (F) of this section. Termination of employment under this division shall be considered just cause for discharge for purposes of division (D)(2) of section 4141.29 of the Revised Code if the individual makes any attempt to deceive the agency about the individual's criminal record.

(D)(1) Each PASSPORT agency shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code for each criminal records check conducted pursuant to A REQUEST MADE UNDER DIVISION (B) OF this section.

(2) A PASSPORT agency may charge an applicant a fee not exceeding the amount the agency pays under division (D)(1) of this section. An agency may collect a fee only if both of the following apply:

(a) The agency notifies the person at the time of initial application for employment of the amount of the fee and that, unless the fee is paid, the person will not be considered for employment;

(b) The medical assistance program established under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code does not reimburse the agency the fee it pays under division (D)(1) of this section.

(E) The report of any criminal records check conducted pursuant to a request made under this section is not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person other than the following:

(1) The individual who is the subject of the criminal records check or the individual's representative;

(2) The chief administrator of the agency requesting the criminal records check or the administrator's representative;

(3) The administrator of any other facility, agency, or program that provides direct care to older adults that is owned or operated by the same entity that owns or operates the PASSPORT agency;

(4) A court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with a denial of employment of the applicant OR DEALING WITH EMPLOYMENT OR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OF THE APPLICANT;

(5) ANY PERSON TO WHOM THE REPORT IS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, DIVISION (I)(1) OR (2) OF THIS SECTION.

(F) The department of aging shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section. The rules shall specify circumstances under which a PASSPORT agency may employ a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section but meets personal character standards set by the department.

(G) The chief administrator of a PASSPORT agency shall inform each person, at the time of initial application for a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult, that the person is required to provide a set of fingerprint impressions and that a criminal records check is required to be conducted if the person comes under final consideration for employment.

(H) In a tort or other civil action for damages that is brought as the result of an injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by an individual who a PASSPORT agency employs in a position that involves providing direct care to older adults, ALL OF the following shall apply:

(1) If the agency employed the individual in good faith and reasonable reliance on the report of a criminal records check requested under this section, the agency shall not be found negligent solely because of its reliance on the report, even if the information in the report is determined later to have been incomplete or inaccurate;

(2) If the agency employed the individual in good faith on a conditional basis pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, the agency shall not be found negligent solely because it employed the individual prior to receiving the report of a criminal records check requested under this section;

(3) If the agency in good faith employed the individual according to the personal character standards established in rules adopted under division (F) of this section, the agency shall not be found negligent solely because the individual prior to being employed had been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section.

(I)(1) The chief administrator OF A PASSPORT AGENCY is not required to request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check of an applicant if the applicant has been referred to the PASSPORT agency by an employment service that supplies full-time, part-time, or temporary staff for positions involving the direct care of older adults and both of the following apply:

(1)(a) The chief administrator receives from the employment service or the applicant a report of the results of a criminal records check regarding the applicant that has been conducted by the superintendent within the one-year period immediately preceding the applicant's referral;

(2)(b) The report of the criminal records check demonstrates that the person has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section, OR THE REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE OR MORE OF THOSE OFFENSES, BUT THE PASSPORT AGENCY CHOOSES TO EMPLOY THE INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO DIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION.

(2) THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF A PASSPORT AGENCY IS NOT REQUIRED TO REQUEST THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK OF AN APPLICANT AND MAY EMPLOY THE APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY AS DESCRIBED IN THIS DIVISION, IF THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE AGENCY BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND IF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVES FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OR THE APPLICANT A LETTER FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT IS ON THE LETTERHEAD OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, DATED, AND SIGNED BY A SUPERVISOR OR ANOTHER DESIGNATED OFFICIAL OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND THAT STATES THAT THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAS REQUESTED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REGARDING THE APPLICANT, THAT THE REQUESTED CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK WILL INCLUDE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ANY OFFENSE LISTED OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(1) OF THIS SECTION, THAT, AS OF THE DATE SET FORTH ON THE LETTER, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, AND THAT, WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE RECEIVES THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, IT PROMPTLY WILL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE PASSPORT AGENCY. IF A PASSPORT AGENCY EMPLOYS AN APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DIVISION, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, UPON ITS RECEIPT OF THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, PROMPTLY SHALL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE PASSPORT AGENCY, AND DIVISION (C)(2)(b) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES REGARDING THE CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

Sec. 3701.881. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Applicant" means both of the following:

(a) A person who is under final consideration for appointment or employment with a home health agency in a position as a person responsible for the care, custody, or control of a child;

(b) A person who is under final consideration for employment with a home health agency in a full-time, part-time, or temporary position that involves providing direct care to an older adult. With regard to persons providing direct care to older adults, "applicant" does not include a person who provides direct care as a volunteer without receiving or expecting to receive any form of remuneration other than reimbursement for actual expenses.

(2) "Criminal records check" and "older adult" have the same meanings as in section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Home health agency" has the same meaning as in section 3701.88 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Minor drug possession offense" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, the chief administrator of a home health agency shall request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct a criminal records check with respect to each applicant. If the position may involve both responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child and provision of direct care to an older adult, the chief administrator shall request that the superintendent conduct a single criminal records check for the applicant. If the AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION does not present proof of having been a resident of this state for the five-year period immediately prior to the date upon which the criminal records check is requested or does not provide evidence that within that five-year period the superintendent has requested information about the applicant from the federal bureau of investigation in a criminal records check, the chief administrator shall request that the superintendent obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation as a part of the criminal records check for the applicant. If the EVEN IF AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION presents proof that the applicant has been a resident of this state for that five-year period, the chief administrator may request that the superintendent include information from the federal bureau of investigation in the criminal records check.

(2) Any person required by division (B)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall provide to each applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THAT DIVISION a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, provide to each applicant AND a standard impression sheet to obtain fingerprint impressions prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, obtain the completed form and impression sheet from each applicant, and forward the completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation at the time the chief administrator requests a criminal records check pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section.

(3) An applicant who receives pursuant to division (B)(2) of this section a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and a copy of an impression sheet prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section and who is requested to complete the form and provide a set of fingerprint impressions shall complete the form or provide all the information necessary to complete the form and shall provide the impression sheets with the impressions of the applicant's fingerprints. If an applicant, upon request, fails to provide the information necessary to complete the form or fails to provide fingerprint impressions, the home health agency shall not employ that applicant for any position for which a criminal records check is required by division (B)(1) of this section.

(C)(1) Except as provided in rules adopted by the department of health in accordance with division (F) of this section AND SUBJECT TO DIVISION (C)(3) OF THIS SECTION, no home health agency shall employ a person as a person responsible for the care, custody, or control of a child if the person previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense, or felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code;

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (C)(1)(a) of this section.

(2) Except as provided in rules adopted by the department of health in accordance with division (F) of this section AND SUBJECT TO DIVISION (C)(3) OF THIS SECTION, no home health agency shall employ a person in a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult if the person previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code.

(b) An A VIOLATION OF AN existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (C)(2)(a) of this section.

(3)(a) A home health agency may employ CONDITIONALLY an applicant conditionally FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION as a person responsible for the care, custody, or control of a child until the criminal records check REGARDING THE APPLICANT required by this section is completed and the agency receives the results of the criminal records check. If the results of the criminal records check indicate that, pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, the applicant does not qualify for employment, the agency shall release the applicant from employment UNLESS THE AGENCY CHOOSES TO EMPLOY THE APPLICANT PURSUANT TO DIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION.

(b)(i) A home health agency may employ CONDITIONALLY an applicant conditionally FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION in a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult OR IN A POSITION THAT INVOLVES BOTH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL OF A CHILD AND THE PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS prior to obtaining the results of a criminal records check regarding the individual. The, PROVIDED THAT THE agency shall request a criminal records check REGARDING THE INDIVIDUAL in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section not later than five business days after the individual begins conditional employment. The agency IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OF THIS SECTION, A HOME HEALTH AGENCY MAY EMPLOY CONDITIONALLY IN A POSITION THAT INVOLVES PROVIDING DIRECT CARE TO AN OLDER ADULT AN APPLICANT WHO HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOME HEALTH AGENCY BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND FOR WHOM, PURSUANT TO THAT DIVISION, A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(4) OF THIS SECTION, A HOME HEALTH AGENCY MAY EMPLOY CONDITIONALLY IN A POSITION THAT INVOLVES BOTH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL OF A CHILD AND THE PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS AN APPLICANT WHO HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOME HEALTH AGENCY BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING BOTH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL OF A CHILD AND THE PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS AND FOR WHOM, PURSUANT TO THAT DIVISION, A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION.

(ii) A HOME HEALTH AGENCY THAT EMPLOYS AN INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONALLY UNDER AUTHORITY OF DIVISION (C)(3)(b)(i) OF THIS SECTION shall terminate the individual's employment if the results of the criminal records check REQUESTED UNDER DIVISION (B)(1) OF THIS SECTION OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OR (4) OF THIS SECTION, other than the results of any request for information from the federal bureau of investigation, are not obtained within the period ending sixty days after the date the request is made. Regardless of when the results of the criminal records check are obtained, if THE INDIVIDUAL WAS EMPLOYED CONDITIONALLY IN A POSITION THAT INVOLVES THE PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS AND THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ANY OF THE OFFENSES LISTED OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(2) OF THIS SECTION, OR IF THE INDIVIDUAL WAS EMPLOYED CONDITIONALLY IN A POSITION THAT INVOLVES BOTH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL OF A CHILD AND THE PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS AND the results indicate that the individual has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed or described in division (C)(1) OR (2) of this section, the agency shall terminate the individual's employment unless the agency chooses to employ the individual pursuant to division (F) of this section. Termination of employment under this division shall be considered just cause for discharge for purposes of division (D)(2) of section 4141.29 of the Revised Code if the individual makes any attempt to deceive the agency about the individual's criminal record.

(D)(1) Each home health agency shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code for each criminal records check conducted in accordance with that section upon the request pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section of the chief administrator of the home health agency.

(2) A home health agency may charge an applicant a fee for the costs it incurs in obtaining a criminal records check under this section, unless the medical assistance program established under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code reimburses the agency for the costs. A fee charged under division (D)(2) of this section shall not exceed the amount of fees the agency pays under division (D)(1) of this section. If a fee is charged under division (D)(2) of this section, the agency shall notify the applicant at the time of the applicant's initial application for employment of the amount of the fee and that, unless the fee is paid, the agency will not consider the applicant for employment.

(E) The report of any criminal records check conducted by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code and pursuant to a request made under division (B)(1) of this section is not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person other than the following:

(1) The individual who is the subject of the criminal records check or the individual's representative;

(2) The home health agency requesting the criminal records check or its representative;

(3) The administrator of any other facility, agency, or program that provides direct care to older adults that is owned or operated by the same entity that owns or operates the home health agency;

(4) Any court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with the A denial of employment of the applicant OR DEALING WITH EMPLOYMENT OR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OF THE APPLICANT;

(5) ANY PERSON TO WHOM THE REPORT IS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, DIVISION (I)(1), (2), (3), OR (4) OF THIS SECTION.

(F) The department of health shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section. The rules shall specify circumstances under which the home health agency may employ a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section but who meets standards in regard to rehabilitation set by the department or employ a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(2) of this section but meets personal character standards set by the department.

(G) Any person required by division (B)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall inform each person, at the time of initial application for employment that the person is required to provide a set of fingerprint impressions and that a criminal records check is required to be conducted and satisfactorily completed in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code if the person comes under final consideration for appointment or employment as a precondition to employment for that position.

(H) In a tort or other civil action for damages that is brought as the result of an injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by an individual who a home health agency employs in a position that involves providing direct care to older adults, ALL OF the following shall apply:

(1) If the agency employed the individual in good faith and reasonable reliance on the report of a criminal records check requested under this section, the agency shall not be found negligent solely because of its reliance on the report, even if the information in the report is determined later to have been incomplete or inaccurate;

(2) If the agency employed the individual in good faith on a conditional basis pursuant to division (C)(2)(3)(b) of this section, the agency shall not be found negligent solely because it employed the individual prior to receiving the report of a criminal records check requested under this section;

(3) If the agency in good faith employed the individual according to the personal character standards established in rules adopted under division (F) of this section, the agency shall not be found negligent solely because the individual prior to being employed had been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) OR (2) of this section.

(I)(1) The chief administrator OF A HOME HEALTH AGENCY is not required to request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check of an applicant FOR A POSITION THAT INVOLVES THE PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS if the applicant has been referred to the home health agency by an employment service that supplies full-time, part-time, or temporary staff for positions involving the direct care of older adults and both of the following apply:

(1)(a) The chief administrator receives from the employment service or the applicant a report of the results of a criminal records check regarding the applicant that has been conducted by the superintendent within the one-year period immediately preceding the applicant's referral;

(2)(b) The report of the criminal records check demonstrates that the person has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(2) of this section,OR THE REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE OR MORE OF THOSE OFFENSES, BUT THE HOME HEALTH AGENCY CHOOSES TO EMPLOY THE INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO DIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION.

(2) THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF A HOME HEALTH AGENCY IS NOT REQUIRED TO REQUEST THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK OF AN APPLICANT FOR A POSITION THAT INVOLVES PROVIDING DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS AND MAY EMPLOY THE APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY IN A POSITION OF THAT NATURE AS DESCRIBED IN THIS DIVISION, IF THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE AGENCY BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND IF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVES FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OR THE APPLICANT A LETTER FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT IS ON THE LETTERHEAD OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, DATED, AND SIGNED BY A SUPERVISOR OR ANOTHER DESIGNATED OFFICIAL OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND THAT STATES THAT THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAS REQUESTED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REGARDING THE APPLICANT, THAT THE REQUESTED CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK WILL INCLUDE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ANY OFFENSE LISTED OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(2) OF THIS SECTION, THAT, AS OF THE DATE SET FORTH ON THE LETTER, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, AND THAT, WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE RECEIVES THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, IT PROMPTLY WILL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE HOME HEALTH AGENCY. IF A HOME HEALTH AGENCY EMPLOYS AN APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DIVISION, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, UPON ITS RECEIPT OF THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, PROMPTLY SHALL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE HOME HEALTH AGENCY, AND DIVISION (C)(3)(b) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES REGARDING THE CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

(3) THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF A HOME HEALTH AGENCY IS NOT REQUIRED TO REQUEST THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK OF AN APPLICANT FOR A POSITION THAT INVOLVES BOTH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL OF A CHILD AND THE PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS IF THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE AGENCY BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING BOTH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL OF A CHILD AND THE PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS AND BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY:

(a) THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVES FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OR APPLICANT A REPORT OF A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(1)(a) OF THIS SECTION;

(b) THE REPORT OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PERSON HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO AN OFFENSE LISTED OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(1) OR (2) OF THIS SECTION, OR THE REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE OR MORE OF THOSE OFFENSES, BUT THE HOME HEALTH AGENCY CHOOSES TO EMPLOY THE INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO DIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION.

(4) THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF A HOME HEALTH AGENCY IS NOT REQUIRED TO REQUEST THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK OF AN APPLICANT FOR A POSITION THAT INVOLVES BOTH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL OF A CHILD AND THE PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE TO OLDER ADULTS AND MAY EMPLOY THE APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY IN A POSITION OF THAT NATURE AS DESCRIBED IN THIS DIVISION, IF THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE AGENCY BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING BOTH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL OF A CHILD AND THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND IF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVES FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OR THE APPLICANT A LETTER FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT IS ON THE LETTERHEAD OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, DATED, AND SIGNED BY A SUPERVISOR OR ANOTHER DESIGNATED OFFICIAL OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND THAT STATES THAT THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAS REQUESTED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REGARDING THE APPLICANT, THAT THE REQUESTED CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK WILL INCLUDE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ANY OFFENSE LISTED OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(1) OR (2) OF THIS SECTION, THAT, AS OF THE DATE SET FORTH ON THE LETTER, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, AND THAT, WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE RECEIVES THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, IT PROMPTLY WILL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE HOME HEALTH AGENCY. IF A HOME HEALTH AGENCY EMPLOYS AN APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DIVISION, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, UPON ITS RECEIPT OF THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, PROMPTLY SHALL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE HOME HEALTH AGENCY, AND DIVISION (C)(3)(b) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES REGARDING THE CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

Sec. 3712.09. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Applicant" means a person who is under final consideration for employment with a hospice care program in a full-time, part-time, or temporary position that involves providing direct care to an older adult. "Applicant" does not include a person who provides direct care as a volunteer without receiving or expecting to receive any form of remuneration other than reimbursement for actual expenses.

(2) "Criminal records check" and "older adult" have the same meanings as in section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, the chief administrator of a hospice care program shall request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check with respect to each applicant. If the AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION does not present proof of having been a resident of this state for the five-year period immediately prior to the date the criminal records check is requested or provide evidence that within that five-year period the superintendent has requested information about the applicant from the federal bureau of investigation in a criminal records check, the chief administrator shall request that the superintendent obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation as part of the criminal records check of the applicant. Even if the AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION presents proof of having been a resident of this state for the five-year period, the chief administrator may request that the superintendent include information from the federal bureau of investigation in the criminal records check.

(2) A person required by division (B)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall do both of the following:

(a) Provide to each applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THAT DIVISION a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and a standard fingerprint impression sheet prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section, and obtain the completed form and impression sheet from the applicant;

(b) Forward the completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

(3) An applicant provided the form and fingerprint impression sheet under division (B)(2)(a) of this section who fails to complete the form or provide fingerprint impressions shall not be employed in any position for which a criminal records check is required by this section.

(C)(1) Except as provided in rules adopted by the public health council in accordance with division (F) of this section AND SUBJECT TO DIVISION (C)(2) OF THIS SECTION, no hospice care program shall employ a person in a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult if the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code.

(b) An A VIOLATION OF AN existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (C)(1)(a) of this section.

(2)(a) A hospice care program may employ CONDITIONALLY an applicant conditionally FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION prior to obtaining the results of a criminal records check regarding the individual. The, PROVIDED THAT THE program shall request a criminal records check REGARDING THE INDIVIDUAL in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section not later than five business days after the individual begins conditional employment. The program IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OF THIS SECTION, A HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM MAY EMPLOY CONDITIONALLY AN APPLICANT WHO HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND FOR WHOM, PURSUANT TO THAT DIVISION, A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION.

(b) A HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM THAT EMPLOYS AN INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONALLY UNDER AUTHORITY OF DIVISION (C)(2)(a) OF THIS SECTION shall terminate the individual's employment if the results of the criminal records check REQUESTED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OF THIS SECTION, other than the results of any request for information from the federal bureau of investigation, are not obtained within the period ending sixty days after the date the request is made. Regardless of when the results of the criminal records check are obtained, if the results indicate that the individual has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section, the program shall terminate the individual's employment unless the program chooses to employ the individual pursuant to division (F) of this section. Termination of employment under this division shall be considered just cause for discharge for purposes of division (D)(2) of section 4141.29 of the Revised Code if the individual makes any attempt to deceive the program about the individual's criminal record.

(D)(1) Each hospice care program shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code for each criminal records check conducted pursuant to A REQUEST MADE UNDER DIVISION (B) OF this section.

(2) A hospice care program may charge an applicant a fee not exceeding the amount the program pays under division (D)(1) of this section. A program may collect a fee only if both of the following apply:

(a) The program notifies the person at the time of initial application for employment of the amount of the fee and that, unless the fee is paid, the person will not be considered for employment;

(b) The medical assistance program established under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code does not reimburse the program the fee it pays under division (D)(1) of this section.

(E) The report of a criminal records check conducted pursuant to a request made under this section is not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person other than the following:

(1) The individual who is the subject of the criminal records check or the individual's representative;

(2) The chief administrator of the program requesting the criminal records check or the administrator's representative;

(3) The administrator of any other facility, agency, or program that provides direct care to older adults that is owned or operated by the same entity that owns or operates the hospice care program;

(4) A court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with a denial of employment of the applicant OR DEALING WITH EMPLOYMENT OR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OF THE APPLICANT;

(5) ANY PERSON TO WHOM THE REPORT IS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, DIVISION (I)(1) OR (2) OF THIS SECTION.

(F) The public health council shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section. The rules shall specify circumstances under which a hospice care program may employ a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section but meets personal character standards set by the council.

(G) The chief administrator of a hospice care program shall inform each individual, at the time of initial application for a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult, that the individual is required to provide a set of fingerprint impressions and that a criminal records check is required to be conducted if the individual comes under final consideration for employment.

(H) In a tort or other civil action for damages that is brought as the result of an injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by an individual who a hospice care program employs in a position that involves providing direct care to older adults, ALL OF the following shall apply:

(1) If the program employed the individual in good faith and reasonable reliance on the report of a criminal records check requested under this section, the program shall not be found negligent solely because of its reliance on the report, even if the information in the report is determined later to have been incomplete or inaccurate;

(2) If the program employed the individual in good faith on a conditional basis pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, the program shall not be found negligent solely because it employed the individual prior to receiving the report of a criminal records check requested under this section;

(3) If the program in good faith employed the individual according to the personal character standards established in rules adopted under division (F) of this section, the program shall not be found negligent solely because the individual prior to being employed had been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section.

(I)(1) The chief administrator OF A HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM is not required to request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check of an applicant if the applicant has been referred to the hospice care program by an employment service that supplies full-time, part-time, or temporary staff for positions involving the direct care of older adults and both of the following apply:

(1)(a) The chief administrator receives from the employment service or the applicant a report of the results of a criminal records check regarding the applicant that has been conducted by the superintendent within the one-year period immediately preceding the applicant's referral;

(2)(b) The report of the criminal records check demonstrates that the person has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section, OR THE REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE OR MORE OF THOSE OFFENSES, BUT THE HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM CHOOSES TO EMPLOY THE INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO DIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION.

(2) THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF A HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM IS NOT REQUIRED TO REQUEST THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK OF AN APPLICANT AND MAY EMPLOY THE APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY AS DESCRIBED IN THIS DIVISION, IF THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE PROGRAM BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND IF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVES FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OR THE APPLICANT A LETTER FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT IS ON THE LETTERHEAD OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, DATED, AND SIGNED BY A SUPERVISOR OR ANOTHER DESIGNATED OFFICIAL OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND THAT STATES THAT THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAS REQUESTED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REGARDING THE APPLICANT, THAT THE REQUESTED CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK WILL INCLUDE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ANY OFFENSE LISTED OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(1) OF THIS SECTION, THAT, AS OF THE DATE SET FORTH ON THE LETTER, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, AND THAT, WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE RECEIVES THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, IT PROMPTLY WILL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM. IF A HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM EMPLOYS AN APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DIVISION, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, UPON ITS RECEIPT OF THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, PROMPTLY SHALL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM, AND DIVISION (C)(2)(b) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES REGARDING THE CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

Sec. 3721.121. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Adult day-care program" means a program operated pursuant to rules adopted by the public health council under section 3721.04 of the Revised Code and provided by and on the same site as homes licensed under this chapter.

(2) "Applicant" means a person who is under final consideration for employment with a home or adult day-care program in a full-time, part-time, or temporary position that involves providing direct care to an older adult. "Applicant" does not include a person who provides direct care as a volunteer without receiving or expecting to receive any form of remuneration other than reimbursement for actual expenses.

(3) "Criminal records check" and "older adult" have the same meanings as in section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Home" means a home as defined in section 3721.10 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, the chief administrator of a home or adult day-care program shall request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check with respect to each applicant. If the AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION does not present proof of having been a resident of this state for the five-year period immediately prior to the date the criminal records check is requested or provide evidence that within that five-year period the superintendent has requested information about the applicant from the federal bureau of investigation in a criminal records check, the chief administrator shall request that the superintendent obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation as part of the criminal records check of the applicant. Even if the AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION presents proof of having been a resident of this state for the five-year period, the chief administrator may request that the superintendent include information from the federal bureau of investigation in the criminal records check.

(2) A person required by division (B)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall do both of the following:

(a) Provide to each applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THAT DIVISION a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and a standard fingerprint impression sheet prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section, and obtain the completed form and impression sheet from the applicant;

(b) Forward the completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

(3) An applicant provided the form and fingerprint impression sheet under division (B)(2)(a) of this section who fails to complete the form or provide fingerprint impressions shall not be employed in any position for which a criminal records check is required by this section.

(C)(1) Except as provided in rules adopted by the director of health in accordance with division (F) of this section AND SUBJECT TO DIVISION (C)(2) OF THIS SECTION, no home or adult day-care program shall employ a person in a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult if the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code.

(b) An A VIOLATION OF AN existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (C)(1)(a) of this section.

(2)(a) A home or an adult day-care program may employ CONDITIONALLY an applicant conditionally FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION prior to obtaining the results of a criminal records check regarding the individual. The, PROVIDED THAT THE home or program shall request a criminal records check REGARDING THE INDIVIDUAL in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section not later than five business days after the individual begins conditional employment. The home or program IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OF THIS SECTION, A HOME OR ADULT DAY-CARE PROGRAM MAY EMPLOY CONDITIONALLY AN APPLICANT WHO HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOME OR ADULT DAY-CARE PROGRAM BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND FOR WHOM, PURSUANT TO THAT DIVISION, A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION.

(b) A HOME OR ADULT DAY-CARE PROGRAM THAT EMPLOYS AN INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONALLY UNDER AUTHORITY OF DIVISION (C)(2)(a) OF THIS SECTION shall terminate the individual's employment if the results of the criminal records check REQUESTED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OF THIS SECTION, other than the results of any request for information from the federal bureau of investigation, are not obtained within the period ending sixty days after the date the request is made. Regardless of when the results of the criminal records check are obtained, if the results indicate that the individual has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section, the home or program shall terminate the individual's employment unless the home or program chooses to employ the individual pursuant to division (F) of this section. Termination of employment under this division shall be considered just cause for discharge for purposes of division (D)(2) of section 4141.29 of the Revised Code if the individual makes any attempt to deceive the home or program about the individual's criminal record.

(D)(1) Each home or adult day-care program shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code for each criminal records check conducted pursuant to A REQUEST MADE UNDER DIVISION (B) OF this section.

(2) A home or adult day-care program may charge an applicant a fee not exceeding the amount the home or program pays under division (D)(1) of this section. A home or program may collect a fee only if both of the following apply:

(a) The home or program notifies the person at the time of initial application for employment of the amount of the fee and that, unless the fee is paid, the person will not be considered for employment;

(b) The medical assistance program established under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code does not reimburse the home or program the fee it pays under division (D)(1) of this section.

(E) The report of any criminal records check conducted pursuant to a request made under this section is not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person other than the following:

(1) The individual who is the subject of the criminal records check or the individual's representative;

(2) The chief administrator of the home or program requesting the criminal records check or the administrator's representative;

(3) The administrator of any other facility, agency, or program that provides direct care to older adults that is owned or operated by the same entity that owns or operates the home or program;

(4) A court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with a denial of employment of the applicant OR DEALING WITH EMPLOYMENT OR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OF THE APPLICANT;

(5) ANY PERSON TO WHOM THE REPORT IS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, DIVISION (I)(1) OR (2) OF THIS SECTION.

(F) In accordance with section 3721.11 of the Revised Code, the director of health shall adopt rules to implement this section. The rules shall specify circumstances under which a home or adult day-care program may employ a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section but meets personal character standards set by the director.

(G) The chief administrator of a home or adult day-care program shall inform each individual, at the time of initial application for a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult, that the individual is required to provide a set of fingerprint impressions and that a criminal records check is required to be conducted if the individual comes under final consideration for employment.

(H) In a tort or other civil action for damages that is brought as the result of an injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by an individual who a home or adult day-care program employs in a position that involves providing direct care to older adults, ALL OF the following shall apply:

(1) If the home or program employed the individual in good faith and reasonable reliance on the report of a criminal records check requested under this section, the home or program shall not be found negligent solely because of its reliance on the report, even if the information in the report is determined later to have been incomplete or inaccurate;

(2) If the home or program employed the individual in good faith on a conditional basis pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, the home or program shall not be found negligent solely because it employed the individual prior to receiving the report of a criminal records check requested under this section;

(3) If the home or program in good faith employed the individual according to the personal character standards established in rules adopted under division (F) of this section, the home or program shall not be found negligent solely because the individual prior to being employed had been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section.

(I)(1) The chief administrator OF A HOME OR ADULT DAY-CARE PROGRAM is not required to request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check of an applicant if the applicant has been referred to the home or adult day-care program by an employment service that supplies full-time, part-time, or temporary staff for positions involving the direct care of older adults and both of the following apply:

(1)(a) The chief administrator receives from the employment service or the applicant a report of the results of a criminal records check regarding the applicant that has been conducted by the superintendent within the one-year period immediately preceding the applicant's referral;

(2)(b) The report of the criminal records check demonstrates that the person has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section, OR THE REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE OR MORE OF THOSE OFFENSES, BUT THE HOME OR ADULT DAY-CARE PROGRAM CHOOSES TO EMPLOY THE INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO DIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION.

(2) THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF A HOME OR ADULT DAY-CARE PROGRAM IS NOT REQUIRED TO REQUEST THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK OF AN APPLICANT AND MAY EMPLOY THE APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY AS DESCRIBED IN THIS DIVISION, IF THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOME OR PROGRAM BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND IF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVES FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OR THE APPLICANT A LETTER FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT IS ON THE LETTERHEAD OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, DATED, AND SIGNED BY A SUPERVISOR OR ANOTHER DESIGNATED OFFICIAL OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND THAT STATES THAT THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAS REQUESTED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REGARDING THE APPLICANT, THAT THE REQUESTED CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK WILL INCLUDE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ANY OFFENSE LISTED OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(1) OF THIS SECTION, THAT, AS OF THE DATE SET FORTH ON THE LETTER, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, AND THAT, WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE RECEIVES THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, IT PROMPTLY WILL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE HOME OR ADULT-CARE PROGRAM. IF A HOME OR ADULT DAY-CARE PROGRAM EMPLOYS AN APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DIVISION, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, UPON ITS RECEIPT OF THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, PROMPTLY SHALL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE HOME OR ADULT DAY-CARE PROGRAM, AND DIVISION (C)(2)(b) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES REGARDING THE CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

Sec. 3722.151. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Adult care facility" has the same meaning as in section 3722.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Applicant" means a person who is under final consideration for employment with an adult care facility in a full-time, part-time, or temporary position that involves providing direct care to an older adult. "Applicant" does not include a person who provides direct care as a volunteer without receiving or expecting to receive any form of remuneration other than reimbursement for actual expenses.

(3) "Criminal records check" and "older adult" have the same meanings as in section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, the chief administrator of an adult care facility shall request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check with respect to each applicant. If the AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION does not present proof of having been a resident of this state for the five-year period immediately prior to the date the criminal records check is requested or provide evidence that within that five-year period the superintendent has requested information about the applicant from the federal bureau of investigation in a criminal records check, the chief administrator shall request that the superintendent obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation as part of the criminal records check of the applicant. Even if the AN applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS DIVISION presents proof of having been a resident of this state for the five-year period, the chief administrator may request that the superintendent include information from the federal bureau of investigation in the criminal records check.

(2) A person required by division (B)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall do both of the following:

(a) Provide to each applicant FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER THAT DIVISION a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and a standard fingerprint impression sheet prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section, and obtain the completed form and impression sheet from the applicant;

(b) Forward the completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

(3) An applicant provided the form and fingerprint impression sheet under division (B)(2)(a) of this section who fails to complete the form or provide fingerprint impressions shall not be employed in any position for which a criminal records check is required by this section.

(C)(1) Except as provided in rules adopted by the public health council in accordance with division (F) of this section AND SUBJECT TO DIVISION (C)(2) OF THIS SECTION, no adult care facility shall employ a person in a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult if the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code.

(b) An A VIOLATION OF AN existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (C)(1)(a) of this section.

(2)(a) An adult care facility may employ CONDITIONALLY an applicant conditionally FOR WHOM A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REQUEST IS REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION prior to obtaining the results of a criminal records check regarding the individual. The, PROVIDED THAT THE facility shall request a criminal records check REGARDING THE INDIVIDUAL in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section not later than five business days after the individual begins conditional employment. The facility IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OF THIS SECTION, AN ADULT CARE FACILITY MAY EMPLOY CONDITIONALLY AN APPLICANT WHO HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE ADULT CARE FACILITY BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND FOR WHOM, PURSUANT TO THAT DIVISION, A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION.

(b) AN ADULT CARE FACILITY THAT EMPLOYS AN INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONALLY UNDER AUTHORITY OF DIVISION (C)(2)(a) OF THIS SECTION shall terminate the individual's employment if the results of the criminal records check REQUESTED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (I)(2) OF THIS SECTION, other than the results of any request for information from the federal bureau of investigation, are not obtained within the period ending sixty days after the date the request is made. Regardless of when the results of the criminal records check are obtained, if the results indicate that the individual has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section, the facility shall terminate the individual's employment unless the facility chooses to employ the individual pursuant to division (F) of this section. Termination of employment under this division shall be considered just cause for discharge for purposes of division (D)(2) of section 4141.29 of the Revised Code if the individual makes any attempt to deceive the facility about the individual's criminal record.

(D)(1) Each adult care facility shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code for each criminal records check conducted pursuant to A REQUEST MADE UNDER DIVISION (B) OF this section.

(2) An adult care facility may charge an applicant a fee not exceeding the amount the facility pays under division (D)(1) of this section. A facility may collect a fee only if it notifies the person at the time of initial application for employment of the amount of the fee and that, unless the fee is paid, the person will not be considered for employment.

(E) The report of any criminal records check conducted pursuant to a request made under this section is not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person other than the following:

(1) The individual who is the subject of the criminal records check or the individual's representative;

(2) The chief administrator of the facility requesting the criminal records check or the administrator's representative;

(3) The administrator of any other facility, agency, or program that provides direct care to older adults that is owned or operated by the same entity that owns or operates the adult care facility;

(4) A court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with a denial of employment of the applicant OR DEALING WITH EMPLOYMENT OR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OF THE APPLICANT;

(5) ANY PERSON TO WHOM THE REPORT IS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, DIVISION (I)(1) OR (2) OF THIS SECTION.

(F) The public health council shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section. The rules shall specify circumstances under which an adult care facility may employ a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section but meets personal character standards set by the council.

(G) The chief administrator of an adult care facility shall inform each individual, at the time of initial application for a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult, that the individual is required to provide a set of fingerprint impressions and that a criminal records check is required to be conducted if the individual comes under final consideration for employment.

(H) In a tort or other civil action for damages that is brought as the result of an injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by an individual who an adult care facility employs in a position that involves providing direct care to older adults, ALL OF the following shall apply:

(1) If the facility employed the individual in good faith and reasonable reliance on the report of a criminal records check requested under this section, the facility shall not be found negligent solely because of its reliance on the report, even if the information in the report is determined later to have been incomplete or inaccurate;

(2) If the facility employed the individual in good faith on a conditional basis pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, the facility shall not be found negligent solely because it employed the individual prior to receiving the report of a criminal records check requested under this section;

(3) If the facility in good faith employed the individual according to the personal character standards established in rules adopted under division (F) of this section, the facility shall not be found negligent solely because the individual prior to being employed had been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section.

(I)(1) The chief administrator OF AN ADULT CARE FACILITY is not required to request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check of an applicant if the applicant has been referred to the adult care facility by an employment service that supplies full-time, part-time, or temporary staff for positions involving the direct care of older adults and both of the following apply:

(1)(a) The chief administrator receives from the employment service or the applicant a report of the results of a criminal records check regarding the applicant that has been conducted by the superintendent within the one-year period immediately preceding the applicant's referral;

(2)(b) The report of the criminal records check demonstrates that the person has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (C)(1) of this section, OR THE REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE OR MORE OF THOSE OFFENSES, BUT THE ADULT CARE FACILITY CHOOSES TO EMPLOY THE INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO DIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION.

(2) THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF AN ADULT CARE FACILITY IS NOT REQUIRED TO REQUEST THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK OF AN APPLICANT AND MAY EMPLOY THE APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY AS DESCRIBED IN THIS DIVISION, IF THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE FACILITY BY AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT SUPPLIES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR TEMPORARY STAFF FOR POSITIONS INVOLVING THE DIRECT CARE OF OLDER ADULTS AND IF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVES FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OR THE APPLICANT A LETTER FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT IS ON THE LETTERHEAD OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, DATED, AND SIGNED BY A SUPERVISOR OR ANOTHER DESIGNATED OFFICIAL OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND THAT STATES THAT THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAS REQUESTED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CONDUCT A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK REGARDING THE APPLICANT, THAT THE REQUESTED CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK WILL INCLUDE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO ANY OFFENSE LISTED OR DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (C)(1) OF THIS SECTION, THAT, AS OF THE DATE SET FORTH ON THE LETTER, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, AND THAT, WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE RECEIVES THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, IT PROMPTLY WILL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE ADULT CARE FACILITY. IF AN ADULT CARE FACILITY EMPLOYS AN APPLICANT CONDITIONALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DIVISION, THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, UPON ITS RECEIPT OF THE RESULTS OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK, PROMPTLY SHALL SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THE ADULT CARE FACILITY, AND DIVISION (C)(2)(b) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES REGARDING THE CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

Section 2. That existing sections 173.41, 3701.881, 3712.09, 3721.121, and 3722.151 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

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