FL H7233

Exempts mental health personnel employed by hospitals with less than 15 hours per week of direct patient contact from fingerprinting and background screening requirements.

Establishes a staggered rescreening schedule for health care employees, with persons screened before December 31, 2003 to be rescreened by July 31, 2013, those screened between January 1, 2004-December 31, 2007 by July 31, 2014, and those screened between January 1, 2008-July 31, 2010 by July 31, 2015.

Exempts law enforcement officers holding active Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission certification from refingerprinting and rescreening requirements if they attested to completion of prior screening and compliance with good moral character standards.

Revises definition of "direct service provider" for elderly care programs to exclude volunteers assisting fewer than 20 hours monthly, blood relatives of clients, clients' spouses, and attorneys in good standing; requires existing direct service providers to be screened by July 1, 2012 with rescreening every 5 years unless fingerprints are retained electronically.

Requires certified nursing assistants to be waived from background screening if they passed required screening within 90 days before application; directs state agencies to evaluate and report on barriers to efficient background screening by November 1, 2011.