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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 12, 2017 09:02 AM
From:	Senator Elder A. Vogel, Jr.
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Background checks for home health care workers

In the near future, I will introduce legislation to better protect senior citizens and other Pennsylvanians receiving in-home care through the waiver program within the Department of Human Services. It was recently brought to my attention that a constituent receiving in-home care had opened their home to a care provider with a serious criminal record. This worker was hired under a section of existing law 55 Pa Code § 52.19 and PA Code § 52.20 that permits home healthcare agencies to provisionally hire and utilize workers before the completion of their criminal background check. Senior citizens and our most vulnerable populations should not have to fear that their care-providers have histories of criminal backgrounds. My legislation will eliminate provisional hiring and ensure that all care-providers have passed a criminal background check.

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