ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                          H.B. 1425

(3)      INSTITUTE AN INTERNAL CLIENT COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION
PROCESS THAT INCLUDES:

(I)      NOTICE TO THE CLIENT OR THE CLIENT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE COMPLAINT PROCESS; AND

(II)     PROTOCOLS TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS;

(4)      PROVIDE NOTICE TO CLIENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S COMPLAINT
HOTLINE NUMBER FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY AN
INDIVIDUAL REFERRED BY THE NURSING REFERRAL SERVICE AGENCY; AND

(5)      ALLOW CLIENTS TO ACCEPT OR REJECT, AT THEIR DISCRETION, ANY
LICENSED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OR CARE PROVIDER REFERRED BY THE NURSING
REFERRAL SERVICE AGENCY.

(C) (1) FOR EACH LICENSED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND CARE PROVIDER,
A NURSING REFERRAL SERVICE AGENCY SHALL:

(I)      APPLY TO THE CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR A STATE CRIMINAL
HISTORY RECORDS CHECK; OR

(II)     REQUEST A PRIVATE AGENCY TO CONDUCT A BACKGROUND
CHECK.

(2) (I) AS PART OF THE APPLICATION FOR A CRIMINAL HISTORY
RECORDS CHECK, THE NURSING REFERRAL SERVICE AGENCY SHALL SUBMIT TO THE
CENTRAL REPOSITORY:

1. TWO COMPLETE SETS OF LEGIBLE FINGERPRINTS OF THE
LICENSED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OR CARE PROVIDER TAKEN ON FORMS APPROVED
BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL REPOSITORY; AND

2. THE FEE AUTHORIZED UNDER § 10-221(B)(7) OF THE
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ARTICLE FOR ACCESS TO MARYLAND CRIMINAL HISTORY
RECORDS.

(II)     IN ACCORDANCE WITH §§ 10-201 THROUGH 10-228 OF THE
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ARTICLE, THE CENTRAL REPOSITORY SHALL FORWARD TO
THE LICENSED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OR CARE PROVIDER AND THE NURSING
REFERRAL SERVICE AGENCY A PRINTED STATEMENT LISTING THE CRIMINAL
CONVICTIONS OF THE LICENSED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OR CARE PROVIDER

(III)   INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE CENTRAL REPOSITORY
UNDER THIS SUBSECTION:

1.       IS CONFIDENTIAL AND MAY NOT BE REDISSEMINATED;
AND

2.       MAY BE USED ONLY FOR THE SCREENING PURPOSE
AUTHORIZED BY THIS SUBSECTION.

- 3341 -