CONNECTICUT: Fingerprinting Caregivers Off the Table; Governor Rolls Back Pandemic Restrictions

​In a significant victory for home care and at the urging of HCAOA Connecticut and many member agency owners, the Department of Consumer Protection has agreed to withdraw its proposed requirement for a FBI background check and fingerprinting of home care workers. 

Amendments proposed by the department to House Bill 6100, pending before the General Law Committee, would still require local and national criminal background checks of multi-state and jurisdictional criminal records conducted by a consumer reporting agency or accredited background screening company. Only caregivers would need to be screened but a conviction for certain crimes committed within 5 years would make them ineligible for employment. A complete and verified I-9 would be required of applicants and video interviews would be allowed. Additionally, the bill bans agencies from using any terms in business names or advertising that describe services related to health care, such as memory support or Alzheimer’s disease, which HCAOA-CT opposes. The ban, however, would not apply to hospitals with a HCA and agencies could advertise third-party certifications. HCAOA Connecticut members can discuss this bill and other priorities affecting home care in appointments with their lawmakers at its Lobby Day next month. Meanwhile, Gov. Lamont announced last week a major series of rollbacks of COVID-19 related restrictions for businesses. Sector rules will change in the coming days and masks and physical distancing will continue, but beginning March 19, 2021, capacity limits will be lifted for restaurants and other facilities and gathering sizes will increase.