HB 1064 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Human Services to conduct comprehensive criminal background checks on current and prospective employees, volunteers, contractors, and their employees and volunteers who work in close proximity to minors, young adults, or vulnerable adults receiving child welfare services, social services, or foster care support services.

• Requires background checks to include criminal history record checks per section 846-2.7, consent to obtain additional criminal history information, and checks against adult abuse and child abuse/neglect registries.

• Permits the department to deny or terminate employment or refuse services to individuals if background investigation results indicate they may pose a risk to the health, safety, security, or well-being of the vulnerable populations served.

• Defines "young adult" as persons aged 18-21 or those authorized under the Foster Care Independence Act to receive benefits for aging out of foster care, and cross-references existing definitions for child welfare services, social services, and vulnerable adults.

• Amends sections 378-2.5 and 846-2.7 to add section 346-2.5 to the list of exemptions from Hawaii's ban-the-box employment restrictions and to expand the background check authority list to include department of human services employees and volunteers working with vulnerable populations.