WA SB5531

Prohibits automatic disqualification of long-term care workers based on certain criminal convictions after specified time periods have passed: 3 years for selling cannabis, 5 years for second-degree robbery/extortion and second/third-degree assault, and 10 years for first-degree theft

Eliminates the requirement for repeat character, competence, and suitability reviews when employers have already reviewed a worker's nonautomatically disqualifying conviction, when workers have a certificate of restoration of opportunity, or when more than 10 years have passed since the last conviction

Allows individual providers and home care agency providers to work with unsupervised access to vulnerable adults for up to 30 days while character, competence, and suitability reviews are being completed, provided they pass initial background checks

Exempts individual providers and home care agency providers from fingerprint-based background checks at rehire if they previously worked for the same employer and have not lived outside Washington since their last fingerprint check

Requires written notification to clients and guardians when a provider's character, competence, and suitability review is incomplete, with an option to decline services from that provider