AB 1720 Summary

• Authorizes the State Department of Social Services to grant simplified criminal record exemptions to applicants and employees of community care facilities, residential facilities, and childcare centers if they meet specific criteria (no violent crime convictions, no crimes in last 5 years, no felonies in last 10 years, and no more than 5 misdemeanors or 1 felony).

• Eliminates the requirement for specified individuals connected with care facilities and home care aide applicants to sign declarations under penalty of perjury regarding prior criminal convictions.

• Prohibits the Department of Social Services from requiring applicants to disclose criminal history information prior to receiving live scan fingerprint results.

• Creates new Section 1522.7 establishing criteria and procedures for granting simplified criminal record exemptions to facility applicants and employees.

• Updates criminal background check procedures for community care facilities, residential care facilities for the elderly, facilities for chronic life-threatening illness, and childcare centers to reference the simplified exemption process.