﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><CertifiedBill type="pl" xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document"><EnrollingCertificate xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document" type="hBill"><Table align="center" pubwidth="wide" width="504.0pt" fontFamily="Courier New"><Col width="252.0pt" /><Col width="228.0pt" /><TR><TDEnroll><Passage><PassedBy chamber="h"><PassedDate>March 6, 2025</PassedDate><Yeas>97</Yeas><Nays>0</Nays><Signer /></PassedBy><PassedBy chamber="s"><PassedDate>April 7, 2025</PassedDate><Yeas>48</Yeas><Nays>0</Nays><Signer /></PassedBy></Passage></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><Certificate><P><TextRun>I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is </TextRun><TextRun fontWeight="bold">SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1490</TextRun><TextRun> as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.</TextRun></P><Certifier /><CertifierPosition>Chief Clerk</CertifierPosition></Certificate></TDEnroll></TR><TR><TDEnroll><ApprovedDate /></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><FiledDate /></TDEnroll></TR><TR><TDEnroll><Governor /></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><P textAlign="center"><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Secretary of State</TextRun></P><P textAlign="center"><TextRun fontWeight="bold"> State of Washington</TextRun></P></TDEnroll></TR></Table></EnrollingCertificate><Bill type="bill" xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document"><BillHeading><ShortBillId>SHB 1490.PL</ShortBillId><LongBillId>SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1490</LongBillId><PLMessage><Message>Passed Legislature</Message><PLSession>2025 Regular Session</PLSession></PLMessage><Legislature>69th Legislature</Legislature><Session>2025 Regular Session</Session><Sponsors>House Early Learning &amp; Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Obras, Gregerson, Peterson, and Cortes; by request of Department of Social and Health Services)</Sponsors><BillHistory><ReadDate>READ FIRST TIME 02/18/25.</ReadDate></BillHistory><BriefDescription>Concerning fingerprint-based background checks.</BriefDescription></BillHeading>

<BillBody>
<BillTitle>AN ACT Relating to fingerprint-based background checks; and reenacting and amending RCW 43.43.837.</BillTitle>
<EnactedClause />
<BillSection type="amendatory" action="remd">
<BillSectionHeader><BillSectionNumber><TextRun>Sec. </TextRun><Value>1</Value><TextRun>.  </TextRun></BillSectionNumber><SectionCite><TextRun>RCW </TextRun><TitleNumber>43</TitleNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><ChapterNumber>43</ChapterNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><SectionNumber>837</SectionNumber></SectionCite> and 2023 c 437 s 1 and 2023 c 223 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:<Caption>Fingerprint-based background checks<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Requirements for applicants and service providers<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Fees<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Rules to establish financial responsibility.</Caption></BillSectionHeader>
<P>(1) In order to determine <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">the</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">an applicant's or service provider's</TextRun> character, competence, and suitability <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">of any applicant or service provider to have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, children, or juveniles, the secretary of the department of social and health services shall require the applicant or service provider to submit fingerprints for the purpose of investigating conviction records through both the Washington state patrol and the federal bureau of investigation when the applicant or service provider</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">for working unsupervised as a department of social and health services or department of children, youth, and families long-term care worker, direct care worker, child placement provider, high-risk provider, residential habilitation center worker, transitional care facility worker, or a contracted home and community-based service provider, applicants and service providers described in subsections (2) and (4) of this section shall submit their fingerprints to the Washington state patrol for forwarding to the federal bureau of investigation for a national background check, as shall individuals 16 years of age or older living in the home of a companion home provider as identified in subsection (2)(c) of this section, and individuals 16 years of age or older living in the home of a child placement provider as identified in subsection (4)(b) of this section.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(2) The department of social and health services shall require a person to submit fingerprints for the purpose of investigating conviction records through both the Washington state patrol and the federal bureau of investigation when the person</TextRun>:</P>
<P>(a) <TextRun amendingStyle="strikemarkleft">Has resided in the state less than three consecutive years before application and:</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strikemarkright">(i)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">Is an applicant or service provider who has resided in the state less than three consecutive years before application and:</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i)</TextRun> Is a contractor providing services funded by <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">other</TextRun> home and community long<Hyphen type="nobreak" />term care programs, established pursuant to chapters 71A.12, 74.09, 74.39, and 74.39A RCW, administered by the department of social and health services; <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or</TextRun></P>
<P>(ii) <TextRun amendingStyle="strikemarkleft">Is an individual who is authorized by the department of social and health services to provide services to people with developmental disabilities under RCW 74.15.030; or</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strikemarkright">(iii)</TextRun> Is applying for employment or is already employed by an area agency on aging or federally recognized Indian tribe, or is an employee of a contractor of an area agency on aging or federally recognized Indian tribe, that will, or may, have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, children, or juveniles when engaging in the activities described in RCW 74.09.520(5);</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(b) Is an applicant or service provider who:</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(b)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i)</TextRun> Is applying for employment or is already employed at any secure facility operated by the department of social and health services under chapter 71.09 RCW;</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(c)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(ii)</TextRun> Is applying to be an adult family home licensee, entity representative, or resident manager under chapter 70.128 RCW;</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(d)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(iii)</TextRun> Is applying to be an assisted living facility licensee or administrator under chapter 18.20 RCW<TextRun amendingStyle="add">. For the purposes of this subsection (2)(b)(iii), "administrator" means an assisted living facility administrator who is in active administrative charge of the assisted living facility as required in this chapter, and unless exempt under RCW 18.88B.041, must complete long-term care worker training and home care aide certification</TextRun>;</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(e)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(iv)</TextRun> Is applying to be an enhanced services facility licensee or administrator under chapter 70.97 RCW<TextRun amendingStyle="add">. For the purposes of this subsection (2)(b)(iv), "administrator" means an enhanced services facility administrator who is in active administrative charge of the enhanced services facility as required in this chapter, and unless exempt under RCW 18.88B.041, must complete long-term care worker training and home care aide certification</TextRun>;</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(f)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(v)</TextRun> Is applying to be a certified community residential <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">services and supports provider</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">service provider</TextRun> or administrator under chapter 71A.12 RCW<TextRun amendingStyle="add">. For the purposes of this subsection (2)(b)(v), "administrator" means an individual who is responsible for or has control over daily operations of a certified community residential service provider, who may or will have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults in a certified community residential service setting, whether or not they provide direct care to vulnerable adults. An individual who is responsible for or has control over daily operations of a certified community residential service provider includes any person who:</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(A) Oversees aspects of staffing, such as recruitment, staff training, or performance reviews;</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(B) Develops and maintains policies and procedures that give staff direction to provide appropriate services and supports under chapter 71A.12 RCW; or</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(C) Maintains and securely stores client, personnel, or financial records</TextRun>;</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(g)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(vi)</TextRun> Has been categorized as a high-risk provider as defined in subsection <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(8)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(9)</TextRun>(f) of this section; <TextRun amendingStyle="strikemarkleft">or</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strikemarkright">(h)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(vii)</TextRun> Is applying for employment <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">or is already employed at any</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">by a</TextRun> residential habilitation center <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">or other state-operated program for individuals with developmental disabilities under chapter 71A.20 RCW</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">under chapter 71A.20 RCW or is applying for a job class series change at a residential habilitation center; or</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(viii) Is applying for employment by a transitional care facility; or</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(c) Is an individual 16 years of age or older and resides in a certified community residential companion home authorized by the developmental disabilities administration to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities under chapter 71A.12 RCW</TextRun>.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(2)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(3)</TextRun> Long-term care workers, as defined in RCW 74.39A.009, who are hired after January 7, 2012, are subject to fingerprint-based background checks under RCW 74.39A.056.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(3)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(4)</TextRun> In order to determine the character, competence, and suitability of <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">an applicant or service provider</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">a person</TextRun> to have unsupervised access to children or juveniles, the secretary of the department of children, youth, and families shall require the <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">applicant or service provider</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">person</TextRun> to submit fingerprints for the purpose of investigating conviction records through both the Washington state patrol and the federal bureau of investigation when <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">the</TextRun><TextRun amendingStyle="add">:</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(a) The person is an</TextRun> applicant or service provider <TextRun amendingStyle="add">who</TextRun>:</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(a)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i)</TextRun> Is applying for a license under RCW 74.15.030 or is an adult living in a home where a child is placed;</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(b)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(ii)</TextRun> Is applying for employment or already employed at a group care facility, regardless of whether the applicant is working directly with children;</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(c)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(iii)</TextRun> Is newly applying for an agency license, is newly licensed, is an employee of an agency that is newly licensed, or will newly have unsupervised access to children in child care, pursuant to RCW 43.216.270; or</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(d)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(iv)</TextRun> Has resided in the state less than three consecutive years before application; and:</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(i)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(A)</TextRun> Is applying for employment, promotion, reallocation, or transfer to a position the department of children, youth, and families has identified as one that will, or may, require the applicant to have unsupervised access to children or juveniles because of the nature of the work; <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(ii)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(B)</TextRun> Is a business or individual contracted to provide services to children or people with developmental disabilities under RCW 74.15.030; or</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(iii) Is</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(b) The person has resided in the state less than three consecutive years, is</TextRun> an individual 16 years of age or older <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">who</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">and</TextRun>: <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(A)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i)</TextRun> Is not under the placement and care authority of the department of children, youth, and families; and <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(B)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(ii)</TextRun> resides in an applicant or service provider's home, facility, entity, agency, or business or who is authorized by the department of children, youth, and families to provide services to children under RCW 74.15.030.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(4)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(5)</TextRun> The secretary of the department of children, youth, and families shall require a fingerprint<Hyphen type="nobreak" />based background check through the Washington state patrol identification and criminal history section and the federal bureau of investigation when the department seeks to approve an applicant or service provider for a foster or adoptive placement of children in accordance with federal and state law. Fees charged by the Washington state patrol and the federal bureau of investigation for fingerprint-based background checks shall be paid by the department of children, youth, and families for foster care and childcare applicants and service providers.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(5)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(6)</TextRun> Applicants and service providers of the department of social and health services, except for long-term care workers subject to RCW 74.39A.056, who are required to complete a fingerprint-based background check may be hired for a <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">one hundred twenty-day</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">120-day</TextRun> provisional period as allowed under law or program rules when:</P>
<P>(a) A fingerprint-based background check is pending; and</P>
<P>(b) The applicant or service provider is not disqualified based on the immediate result of the background check.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(6)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(7)</TextRun> Fees charged by the Washington state patrol and the federal bureau of investigation for fingerprint-based background checks shall be paid by the applicable department for applicants or service providers providing:</P>
<P>(a) Services to people with a developmental disability under RCW 74.15.030;</P>
<P>(b) In-home services funded by medicaid personal care under RCW 74.09.520;</P>
<P>(c) Community options program entry system waiver services under RCW 74.39A.030;</P>
<P>(d) Chore services under RCW 74.39A.110;</P>
<P>(e) Services under <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">other</TextRun> home and community long<Hyphen type="nobreak" />term care programs, established pursuant to chapters 74.39 and 74.39A RCW, administered by the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families; and</P>
<P>(f) Services in, or to residents of, a secure facility under RCW 71.09.115.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(7)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(8)</TextRun> The department of social and health services and the department of children, youth, and families shall develop rules identifying the financial responsibility of service providers, applicants, and the respective department for paying the fees charged by law enforcement to roll, print, or scan fingerprints<Hyphen type="nobreak" />based for the purpose of a Washington state patrol or federal bureau of investigation fingerprint<Hyphen type="nobreak" />based background check.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(8)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(9)</TextRun> For purposes of this section, unless the context plainly indicates otherwise:</P>
<P>(a) "Applicant" means a current or prospective department of social and health services, department of children, youth, and families, or service provider employee, volunteer, student, intern, researcher, contractor, or any <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">other</TextRun> individual specified in subsection <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(1)(a) through (g)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(2)</TextRun> or <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(3)(a) through (d)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(4)</TextRun> of this section who will or may have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, children, or juveniles because of the nature of the work or services he or she provides. "Applicant" includes any individual who will or may have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, children, or juveniles and is:</P>
<P>(i) Applying for a license or certification from the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families;</P>
<P>(ii) Seeking a contract with the department of social and health services, the department of children, youth, and families, or a service provider;</P>
<P>(iii) Applying for employment, promotion, reallocation, or transfer; or</P>
<P>(iv) An individual that a department of social and health services or department of children, youth, and families client or guardian of a department of social and health services or department of children, youth, and families client chooses to hire or engage to provide services to himself or herself or another vulnerable adult, juvenile, or child and who might be eligible to receive payment from the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families for services rendered.</P>
<P>(b) "Area agency on aging" means an agency that is designated by the state to address the needs and concerns of older persons at the regional and local levels and is responsible for a particular geographic area that is a tribal reservation, a single county, or a multicounty planning area. Area agencies on aging have governance based on the corresponding county, city, tribal government, or council of governments.</P>
<P>(c) "Authorized" means the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families grants an applicant, home, or facility permission to:</P>
<P>(i) Conduct licensing, certification, or contracting activities;</P>
<P>(ii) Have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children;</P>
<P>(iii) Receive payments from a department of social and health services or department of children, youth, and families program; or</P>
<P>(iv) Work or serve in a department of social and health services or department of children, youth, and families employment position.</P>
<P>(d) "Community residential services and supports provider" means a person or entity certified by the department of social and health services to deliver one or more of the services described in RCW 71A.12.040 to a person with a developmental disability, as defined in RCW 71A.10.020, who is eligible to receive services from the department of social and health services.</P>
<P>(e) "Entity representative" means the individual designated by an entity provider or entity applicant who:</P>
<P>(i) Is the representative of the entity for the purposes of fulfilling <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">the</TextRun> training and qualification requirements <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">of the state</TextRun> that only an individual can fulfill and an entity cannot;</P>
<P>(ii) Is responsible for overseeing the operation of the home; and</P>
<P>(iii) Does not hold the license on behalf of the entity.</P>
<P>(f) "High-risk provider" means a service provider that has been designated by the state medicaid agency as posing an increased financial risk of fraud, waste, or abuse to the medicaid program. A "high-risk provider" additionally includes any person who has a five percent or more direct or indirect ownership interest in such a provider.</P>
<P>(g) <TextRun amendingStyle="add">"Long-term care workers" include all persons who provide paid, hands-on, personal care services for the elderly or persons with disabilities, including but not limited to individual providers of home care services; direct care workers employed by home care agencies or a consumer directed employer; providers of home care services to persons with developmental disabilities under Title 71A RCW; all direct care workers in state-licensed assisted living facilities, enhanced services facilities, and adult family homes; respite care providers; direct care workers employed by community residential service businesses; and any other direct care worker providing home or community-based services to the elderly or persons with functional disabilities or developmental disabilities.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(h)</TextRun> "Service provider" means entities, facilities, agencies, businesses, or individuals who are licensed, certified, authorized, or regulated by, receive payment from, or have contracts or agreements with the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families to provide services to vulnerable adults, juveniles, or children. "Service provider" includes individuals whom a department of social and health services or department of children, youth, and families client or guardian of a department of social and health services or department of children, youth, and families client may choose to hire or engage to provide services to himself or herself or another vulnerable adult, juvenile, or child and who might be eligible to receive payment from the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families for services rendered.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i) "Transitional care facility" means a staff secure and voluntary state-operated residential treatment facility offering specialized treatment and habilitative interventions for eligible youth with developmental disabilities.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(j) "Unsupervised" means not in the presence of:</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i) Another employee or volunteer from the same business or organization as the applicant; or</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(ii) Any relative or guardian of any of the children or persons with developmental disabilities or vulnerable adults to which the applicant has access while they are employed or involved with the business or organization.</TextRun></P>
<History>2023 c 437 s 1; 2023 c 223 s 3; 2022 c 297 s 954; 2021 c 203 s 2; 2019 c 470 s 12; 2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 s 225; 2012 c 164 s 506; 2011 1st sp.s. c 31 s 17; 2011 c 253 s 2; 2009 c 580 s 6; 2007 c 387 s 1.</History>
<RCWNoteSection>
<RevNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold" readOnly="yes">Reviser's note:</TextRun><TextRun> This section was amended by 2023 c 223 s 3 and by 2023 c 437 s 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).</TextRun></NoteP></RevNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Effective date<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2022 c 297:</TextRun> See note following RCW 43.79.565.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Effective date<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Retroactive application<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2021 c 203:</TextRun> See notes following RCW 43.43.832.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Effective date<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 ss 102, 104-115, 201-227, 301-337, 401-419, 501-513, 801-803, and 805-822:</TextRun> See note following RCW 43.216.025.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Conflict with federal requirements<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2017 3rd sp.s. c 6:</TextRun> See RCW 43.216.908.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Finding<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Intent<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Rules<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Effective date<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2012 c 164:</TextRun> See notes following RCW 18.88B.010.</NoteP></AnnNote>
</RCWNoteSection>
</BillSection>
</BillBody>
</Bill></CertifiedBill>