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State's worker screen archaic

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The Associated Press

Published: October 24, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - Criminal background checks on many caregivers for children, the elderly and disabled are being delayed because Florida isn't taking full advantage of electronic fingerprinting, state officials said Thursday.

In some cases, state law allows felons to work until checks are completed, which can take up to 12 weeks for paper compared with 24 to 48 hours for electronic. In other cases, checks are conducted only for Florida convictions, missing those from other states.

Officials from agencies that screen people for jobs that require background checks, including those who work in schools, nursing homes, day care centers and mental health facilities, met with Gov. Charlie Crist's staff to begin solving a problem exposed by media reports.

An investigation by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel found that more than 3,500 people with criminal records, including rape, robbery and murder, have been allowed to work with the elderly and disabled during the past 20 years because of exemptions granted by the state. Hundreds more stayed on the job because employers ignored their criminal records or failed to run background checks.

Department of Children & Families Secretary George Sheldon said his agency needs to make better use of electronic fingerprinting of applicants for jobs in day care, mental health and substance abuse fields.

Many of the laws requiring background checks haven't been changed since before electronic fingerprinting was available, Sheldon said.

Another problem is that state law lets day care employees work until their background checks are completed, although K-12 teachers must wait until they are cleared.

"I don't really see the rationale that it's OK for children 0 to 4, ... but it's not OK for children 5 to 17," Sheldon said.

Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Holly Benson said state law requires applicants for jobs in nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient facilities, home health agencies, adult day care centers and similar facilities to submit their fingerprints on paper. She has asked the governor's office to seek legislation allowing electronic fingerprinting.

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