HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2576
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to background checks.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act clarify and streamline the background check requirements for applicants, operators, employees, and volunteers at healthcare facilities.

SECTION 2. Section 321-15.2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§321-15.2 Background checks. (a) For the purposes of this section:

"Adults" means individuals aged eighteen years or older.

"Applicant" means a person or entity seeking licensure or certification to operate a healthcare facility. If the applicant is an entity, the term "applicant" shall also include its principals, directors, partners, managers, agents, and representatives to the extent that any of these individuals will have access to or contact with clients, their finances, assets, personal property, medical records, or individually identifiable information.

"Background check" means a review of records stored in state or national record repositories for history of abuse, neglect, threatened harm, or other maltreatment against children or adults, and for any criminal history, including:

(1) Adult abuse perpetrator records by means of a search of the individual's name and birth date in the state adult protective services central registry of reported cases established in section 346-224;

(2) Child abuse and neglect records by means of:

(A) An initial name inquiry in the state child welfare record files;

(B) A subsequent child abuse confirmation history check for new hires and rehires; and

(C) An annual name inquiry into state child welfare record files;

(3) Criminal history records in accordance with section 846-2.7;

(4) Sex offender registry records;

(5) Certified nurse aide registry for information or findings pursuant to section 457A-3; [and]

(6) Adult abuse perpetrator records, child abuse and neglect records, criminal history records, sex offender registry records, and certified nurse aide registry records of another state where a prospective employee or adult volunteer previously resided[.]; and

(7) Fingerprints submitted pursuant to subsection (c).

"Conviction for a relevant crime" means any federal or state conviction for any relevant crime as defined in this section.

"Criminal history record name inquiry" means a record check by name for any federal or state conviction for any relevant crime as defined in this section.

"Department" means the department of health.

"Direct patient access employee" means any individual, including a volunteer, who has access to a patient or resident of a healthcare facility, or any provider through employment or through an agreement or contract with such a facility or provider. [Such individuals include but are not limited to:] "Direct patient access employee" includes but is not limited to physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, home health aides, therapists, activities personnel, and support staff (i.e., housekeeping, dietary, etc.) who have direct access to patients or patient belongings.

"Disqualifying information" means a conviction for a relevant crime or a finding of patient or resident abuse.

"Healthcare facility" means a facility, setting, or agency licensed or certified by the department of health that provides mental health or health care services or living accommodations to individuals, such as a skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, adult residential care home, expanded adult residential care home, assisted living facility, home health agency, home care agency, hospice, adult day health center, special treatment facility, therapeutic living program, intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities, hospital, rural health center, community care foster family home, home and community-based case management agency, adult day care center, developmental disabilities domiciliary home, adult foster home for individuals with developmental disabilities, community mental health center, and rehabilitation agency.

"Name inquiry" means a criminal history record check conducted by using the name and other identifying information of the individual, in lieu of a fingerprint check.

"Operator" means an individual or entity that is licensed or is seeking licensure to operate a healthcare facility and is responsible for the management and overall operations of that healthcare facility.

"Relevant crime" means:

(1) Any offense described in title 42 United States Code [§1320a-7] section 1320a-7 (section 1128(a) of the Social Security Act); or

(2) A crime of such a serious nature or circumstance that the department finds its perpetrator to pose a risk to the health, safety, or well-being of a patient or resident. This includes but is not limited to murder, manslaughter, assault, sex offenses, domestic violence, theft or forgery, arson, kidnapping, or possession, use, sale, manufacture, or distribution of dangerous drugs or controlled substances.

"Third-party employer" means any person or entity other than the applicant or operator that employs, contracts with, or otherwise retains an individual who provides services at a healthcare facility pursuant to a contract, subcontract, agreement, or other arrangement, including but not limited to a staffing agency, contractor, or subcontractor.

(b) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to ensure the reputable and responsible character of all prospective applicants, operators, direct patient access employees, and adult volunteers of a healthcare facility, and, in the case of any healthcare facility operated in a private residence, all adults living in the home other than the clients. These rules, among other things, shall specify how [the department or its designee] applicants, operators, and third-party employers may conduct background checks in accordance with this section.

(c) All applicants [and], prospective operators, prospective direct patient access employees, prospective adult volunteers, and, in the case of any healthcare facility operated in a private residence, any adult living in the home other than the client shall:

(1) Be subject to background checks; [and]

(2) Provide consent to the [department or its designee] applicant, operator, or third-party employer to conduct background checks[.]; and

(3) Submit fingerprints; provided that fingerprints shall not be required for:

(A) Individuals who have submitted fingerprints as a condition of their licensure; and

(B) Adult volunteers for whom all other reviews required by this section have been completed.

[(d) All prospective direct patient access employees and adult volunteers of healthcare facilities and, in the case of any healthcare facility operated in a private residence, all adults living in the home other than the clients shall:

(1) Be subject to background checks in accordance with this section; and

(2) Provide consent to the department or its designee to conduct background checks.

(e) The department or its designee shall obtain background check information in accordance with this section from an applicant or operator, on the applicant or operator, and on any prospective employees of the applicant or operator including any new employee retained after the applicant is issued a license or certificate under this part, which shall include an annual name inquiry into state criminal history record files.

(f)] (d) All applicants or operators shall obtain and ensure completion of the background checks required by this section, including background checks of any prospective direct patient access employee or adult volunteer retained after the applicant is issued a license or certification under this part; provided that for purposes of any prospective direct patient access employee of a third-party employer described under subsection (f), the applicant or operator may satisfy the requirements of this section by obtaining and maintaining the written certification required by subsection (g); provided further that the applicant or operator shall provide background check information to the department upon request.

(e) No applicant or operator shall employ, contract with, or permit any direct patient access employee to work at, or an adult volunteer to serve at, a healthcare facility unless:

(1) The individual has completed the background check required by this section; and

(2) No disqualifying information is found.

(f) A third-party employer shall be responsible for obtaining and ensuring the completion of the background check required by this section for any prospective direct patient access employee who is employed, retained, or assigned by the third-party employer prior to assigning the direct patient access employee to work at a healthcare facility.

(g) An applicant or operator may satisfy the requirements of this section with respect to a prospective direct patient access employee of a third-party employer by obtaining and maintaining written certification from the third-party employer that:

(1) The background check required by this section has been completed; and

(2) No disqualifying information has been found.

The applicant or operator shall submit this information to the department upon request.

(h) Any use of background check information to make an employment decision based on conviction record information shall comply with the requirements of section 378-2.5(c), including any applicable limitation on the consideration of conviction record information.

(i) The department may revoke or suspend a current license or certificate, impose penalties or fines, or deny an application for a license or certificate under rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91 if the applicant, operator, employee, or adult volunteer at the healthcare facility or, in the case of any healthcare facility operated in a private residence, any adult living in the home other than the client:

(1) Refuses to [authorize the department or its designee to conduct a background check,] provide the results of a background check to the department upon request, refuses to authorize the department [or its designee] to obtain background check record information for verification, or refuses to consent to be fingerprinted[;] when required under this section;

(2) Refuses or fails to submit [to the department or its designee] information required to perform a background check;

(3) Has any disqualifying information; or

(4) Has any background check information that the department finds may pose a risk to the health, safety, or welfare of the residents or patients of the healthcare facility.

[(g)] (j) The fee charged [by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hawaii criminal justice data center to perform criminal history record] for conducting background checks may be passed on to all applicants, operators, direct patient access employees, and adult volunteers at the healthcare facility and, in the case of a facility operated in a private residence, all adults living in the home other than the clients.

[(h)] (k) The department [or its designee], in obtaining and relying upon the background check information, is presumed to be acting in good faith and shall be immune from civil liability for taking or recommending action based upon the background check information. The presumption of good faith may be rebutted upon a showing of proof by a preponderance of the evidence that the department [or its designee] relied upon information or opinion that it knew was false or misleading or that such reliance was not reasonable.

[(i)] (l) Any applicant or operator who receives information [from the department or its designee] relating to a background check of a direct patient access employee or adult volunteer or, in the case of a healthcare facility operated in a private residence, an adult living in the home other than the clients, is presumed to be acting in good faith and shall be immune from civil liability for reasonably taking or recommending action based upon [the department's recommendation or direction.] background check information obtained in accordance with this subsection or a written certification received from a third-party employer pursuant to subsection (g). Nothing in this section shall affect rights, obligations, remedies, liabilities, or standards of proof under chapters 368 and 378.

(m) Background check record information obtained in accordance with subsection (l) shall be used exclusively by the department [or its designee], applicant, operator, or third-party employer for the sole purpose of determining whether an applicant, operator, direct patient access employee, or adult volunteer at a healthcare facility, or, in the case of a facility operated in a private residence, any adult living in the home other than the clients is suitable for working or living in close proximity to residents of a healthcare facility such that the health, safety, and welfare of the residents would not be at risk.

(n) An applicant, operator, or third-party employer may apply to register as a qualified entity under section 846-2.7(c) for the purposes of obtaining the background checks required by this section."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Healthcare Facilities; Background Checks; Applicants; Operators; Third-Party Employers; Department of Health

Description:

Authorizes applicants, operators, and third-party employers, rather than the Department of Health, to conduct background checks of employees and adult volunteers at healthcare facilities.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.