AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38 and Title 63, relative to criminal background checks.
Summary
SB1966 requires criminal background checks to be initiated by the relevant licensing boards when certain health care professionals apply to renew their licenses. The bill applies to physicians licensed under the medical practice act, osteopathic physicians, and nurses, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and professional nurses. The checks must use the background-check method referenced in Tennessee law and are triggered at renewal rather than initial licensure.
The bill also assigns the cost of the required background check to the applicant. Any payments that must be made to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are to be handled under existing statutory procedures. The act takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to renewal applications submitted on or after that date.
Impact
SB1966 amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 63 and 38 by adding mandatory renewal-time criminal background check requirements for physicians, osteopathic physicians, and nurses. It expands ongoing licensure oversight for these professions and shifts the financial burden of the checks to applicants, while incorporating existing state procedures for background-check payments. The bill affects professional licensing boards, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and licensed health care practitioners seeking renewal.
Sentiment
The available record does not include committee debate, testimony, or recorded votes, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and regulatory in nature, aimed at public safety and licensure oversight rather than changing substantive practice standards.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcript or voting history. Potential areas of concern implied by the bill itself could include the added cost and administrative burden on licensees, the frequency of background checks at each renewal, and the workload placed on licensing boards and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. However, no stakeholder positions are recorded in the materials provided.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 47; Title 50; Title 62; Title 66 and Title 71, relative to the Fair Background Check and Due Process Act.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 47; Title 50; Title 62; Title 66 and Title 71, relative to the Fair Background Check and Due Process Act.