HEALTH CARE-BACKGROUND CHECK

Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Replaces language prohibiting a health care employer to hire, employ, or retain any individual in a position with duties involving direct care for clients if the individual is convicted of committing specified offenses with language that allows health care employers to hire, employ, or retain any individual in a position involving direct care for clients, patients, or residents, or access to the living quarters or the financial, medical, or personal records of residents, who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit specified offenses after specified time periods or within the time periods with a waiver under the Act. Adds 5 members to the Health Care Worker Task Force. Requires the Task Force to issue recommendations to the Department of Public Health, including (i) examining whether the relevant rules must be amended to reflect changes in Illinois law, (ii) determining whether the waiver procedures are effective, and (iii) connecting people with criminal records to employment with work in the health care industry. Requires the Department of Public Health to issue a report regarding waivers. Makes other changes. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that evidence that an employee (1) has been granted a waiver or similar relief pursuant to the Health Care Worker Background Check Act or (2) has been convicted of a disqualifying offense is not admissible for the purpose of proving that an employer was negligent or otherwise liable for hiring the employee if the employee has received a waiver or has otherwise been determined eligible for hire pursuant to the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Effective immediately.