An Act Concerning Long-term Care Facility Employee Background Checks.
Summary
HB 6774 revises Connecticut’s long-term care facility background-check requirements. The bill directs the Department of Public Health to create and implement a criminal history and patient abuse background search program for individuals who will be offered employment by a long-term care facility, individuals who will contract to provide long-term care services, and certain volunteers with direct access to residents. The background search includes a review of the nurse’s aide registry, state and national criminal history records, and any other registry the department determines is necessary.
The bill also updates the definition of disqualifying offenses and defines the long-term care facilities covered by the law to include nursing homes, residential care homes, home health care agencies, hospice agencies, assisted living services agencies, certain intermediate care facilities, chronic disease hospitals, and hospice-care agencies. Facilities must require background searches before hiring, contracting with, or allowing covered volunteers to begin service, unless the person can show a qualifying background search completed within the prior three years or the commissioner temporarily suspends the requirement during an emergency or significant disruption.
Impact
The bill amends section 19a-491c of the general statutes, effective October 1, 2025, by broadening and clarifying the screening obligations for long-term care providers and by formalizing the Department of Public Health’s role in administering the process. It affects employers, contractors, and volunteers in the long-term care sector, and it also requires coordination between the Department of Public Health and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for criminal history checks. The practical effect is to strengthen resident safety protections and standardize pre-employment and pre-service screening across a wide range of long-term care settings.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill: the Age Committee reported a 14-0 joint favorable substitute vote. No committee transcript excerpts were provided, but the unanimous vote suggests broad agreement that the measure is a routine or protective update to long-term care oversight rather than a controversial policy change. The bill’s framing around patient safety and abuse prevention likely contributed to the positive reception.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the available record. The main policy questions implied by the text are administrative burden, the scope of covered workers and volunteers, and the three-year lookback exception for prior background searches. Another possible point of concern is the commissioner’s authority to temporarily suspend the requirements during an emergency or significant disruption, though no recorded opposition or debate is provided. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a consensus public-safety measure.