HB 993 -- Department of Mental Health Employee Screening

Sponsor:  Lawson

This bill revises provisions pertaining to qualifications and
disqualifications of employees of the Department of Mental
Health and the Division of Aging.  In its main provisions, the
bill:

(1)  Prohibits persons from being employed in any mental health
facility or program who are listed on the disqualification lists
of the Department of Mental Health or the Division of Aging or
who plead guilty or nolo contendere to patient mistreatment or
furnishing unfit food to patients;

(2)  Prohibits persons who are convicted of various felonies or
who violate patient abuse and neglect reporting requirements
from holding any direct care positions in any facility or day
program licensed, operated, or funded by the department;

(3)  Disqualifies persons who receive a suspended imposition of
sentence or a suspended execution of sentence from employment;

(4)  Prohibits persons from the right to appeal if they are
listed on the disqualification list of the division or are
disqualified due to the commission of various crimes;

(5)  Requires applicants for direct care positions in mental
health facilities, specialized services, and day programs to
sign a consent form for a criminal records review, disclose any
criminal history, and disclose if they are listed on the
department's or division's disqualification list;

(6)  Requires mental health facilities, day programs, and
specialized services to request a criminal background check and
to inquire if a new employee is listed on the department's or
division's disqualification list within 2 working days;

(7)  Requires the department to maintain a disqualification
registry; and

(8)  Deletes language pertaining to facilities, day programs, or
specialized services operated or funded by the Department of
Mental Health from the definition "provider" contained in
Section 660.317, RSMo, pertaining to criminal background checks
for the Department of Social Services.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated September 13, 2001 at 2:04 pm