FL S0320

Creates Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse under Agency for Health Care Administration to share criminal history screening results among specified state agencies for persons working with vulnerable populations, with implementation by September 30, 2013.

Requires level 2 background screening and rescreening every 5 years for employees, contractors, and volunteers with direct contact with vulnerable persons across multiple health care, rehabilitation, and elderly services programs, with exemptions for certain licensed professionals, relatives, and intermittent volunteers.

Exempts mental health personnel working less than 15 hours per week in licensed facilities, certified nursing assistants with recent background screening, and law enforcement officers meeting good moral character standards from duplicate fingerprinting and screening requirements.

Authorizes employers to hire employees for training before screening completion but prohibits direct contact with vulnerable persons until screening is completed and establishes procedures for private vendors submitting fingerprints electronically to the Department of Law Enforcement.

Specifies disqualifying offenses including Medicaid fraud, domestic violence, identity theft, forgery, and patient brokering; allows employers to hire individuals during training phase; and requires applicants for Department of Health licensure to submit fingerprints through approved vendors beginning January 1, 2013.