FL H1505

Expands the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse to allow qualified entities (not just specified agencies) to participate beginning January 1, 2024, enabling criminal history check results to be shared among specified agencies and qualified entities for persons seeking employment, volunteer positions, licensure, or contracts.

Requires education-related entities—including district schools, charter schools, schools of hope, private scholarship schools, the Florida Virtual School, and early learning coalitions—to register with the clearinghouse and establishes a phased rescreening schedule for existing employees based on their last screening date, with deadlines ranging from June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2026.

Upgrades background screening requirements for athletic coaches and referees of independent sanctioning authorities for youth teams from level 1 to level 2 screenings (fingerprint-based state and national checks) and removes the previous 20-hour minimum threshold for referees, requiring screening regardless of hours worked.

Adds new disqualification criteria for educator certification and school employment, including persons on the department's disqualification list, registered sex offenders, and those ineligible for an exemption under s. 435.07(4)(c), and prohibits certification or student-contact responsibilities until screening results are received.

Appropriates $285,367 in recurring funds and $581,064 in nonrecurring funds from the Health Care Trust Fund to the Agency for Health Care Administration, along with five full-time equivalent positions, for implementation; the act generally takes effect July 1, 2023, with certain provisions effective January 1, 2023.