HB 5521 Summary

• Amends the Mental Health Code to establish criminal history screening requirements for individuals employed by or under contract with psychiatric facilities and other mental health facilities defined under federal law.

• Prohibits employment, independent contracting, or granting clinical privileges to individuals convicted of relevant federal crimes, felonies involving violence/force, sexual conduct, abuse/neglect, or firearm use, with varying waiting periods (10-15 years depending on offense severity).

• Requires psychiatric facilities and staffing agencies to conduct criminal history checks through the Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation before hiring or granting clinical privileges, with specific procedures for fingerprinting and registry checks.

• Allows conditional employment pending background check completion if applicants meet specified conditions, including public records searches and written statements regarding criminal history.

• Establishes an automated fingerprint identification system database to track and notify facilities of subsequent arrests of previously cleared employees, and requires ongoing employee reporting of new criminal charges or arrests.