HB 5506 Summary

• Establishes procedures for complaint investigations at adult foster care facilities, requiring the department to initiate investigations within 15 days of receiving written complaints and provide findings to complainants within 30 days.

• Protects complainant and resident identity in complaint records unless they consent to disclosure or an administrative hearing or judicial proceeding occurs, with limited exceptions when disclosure is deemed essential to investigation.

• Expands criminal history check requirements for adult foster care facility employees and independent contractors, disqualifying individuals with relevant federal crimes, specific felonies (depending on time elapsed since conviction), and certain misdemeanors within defined timeframes.

• Allows conditional employment of individuals before criminal history results are received if they sign statements confirming no disqualifying convictions, with immediate termination if results contradict their statements.

• Establishes an automated fingerprint identification system database to track employees and provide automatic notification to facilities when employees are subsequently arrested for crimes, requiring immediate contact by the state police.