SB277 Summary

• Expands criminal background check requirements to include any adult working in child care institutions, group homes, maternity centers, or transitional living facilities, in addition to existing covered entities.

• Requires employers and facilities to obtain written consent, fingerprints, and criminal history background information checks prior to or upon employment/licensure, with requests submitted to Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency within 5 business days.

• Establishes disqualifying convictions including violent offenses, sex crimes, crimes involving physical or mental injury to children or elderly persons, crimes committed against children, and controlled substance distribution crimes.

• Individuals falsifying information on criminal history statements face criminal penalties of up to $2,000 fine and 1 year imprisonment as a Class A misdemeanor.

• Permits provisional employment pending suitability determination and allows employers to delay termination to allow individuals to challenge accuracy of background reports or suitability determinations; becomes effective immediately upon passage.