Plain English Breakdown
The official text confirms fingerprint submission goes to the FBI and Georgia Crime Information Center but does not list specific disqualifying crimes or facility types beyond 'certain mental health facilities'.
Background Checks for Mental Health Facility Staff
This law requires owners, applicants, and employees of certain mental health facilities to undergo criminal background checks.
What This Bill Does
- Requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to send fingerprints to federal and state agencies for background checks.
- Mandates that these checks look for records that would disqualify a person from working in mental health facilities.
- Sets rules for keeping personnel files up to date with check results.
- Creates steps to follow if an applicant or employee is found ineligible based on their record.
Who It Names or Affects
- Owners of certain mental health facilities
- Applicants seeking jobs at these facilities
- Employees working in these facilities
Terms To Know
- Disqualifying records
- Criminal history or other information that makes a person ineligible to work at the facility.
- Registry checks
- Reviews of official lists mentioned in the bill title alongside background and license status checks.
Limits and Unknowns
- The text does not list the specific crimes that will disqualify a person.
- It does not explain exactly which types of mental health facilities must follow these rules beyond saying 'certain' ones.
- The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.