FL H1141

Requires direct service transit providers (age 18+) who provide paratransit services to elderly and disabled persons to undergo level 2 background screening, including employment history checks and local criminal records checks through law enforcement agencies.

Mandates immediate dismissal of any direct service transit provider or volunteer who refuses to submit to required background screening; employers who fail to dismiss noncompliant providers forfeit their paratransit provider license, certifications, and all related contracts.

Establishes July 1, 2014, as the deadline for screening existing providers as of July 31, 2013, with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities authorized to adopt rules phasing in implementation over a 1-year period in consultation with the Department of Elderly Affairs.

Requires rescreening every 5 years unless fingerprints are continuously retained and monitored by the Department of Law Enforcement in the federal fingerprint retention program.

Expands disqualifying offenses beyond standard level 2 screening to include Medicaid fraud, financial fraud, credit card fraud, forgery, identity theft, patient brokering, and fraudulent insurance claims under specified Florida statutes.