1. (a) Before an eligible employee may begin work for an adult dependent care program, each adult dependent care program shall, for each eligible employee:

   1. (1)

      1. (i) Apply for a State criminal history records check; or
      2. (ii) Request a private agency to conduct a background check; and
   2. (2) Request a reference from the potential employee's most recent employer.
2. (b) The reference request required under subsection (a)(2) of this section shall, at a minimum, seek information about any history of physical abuse on the part of the potential employee.

3. (c) An adult dependent care program shall pay for each eligible employee:

   1. (1) A State criminal history records check; or
   2. (2) A private agency background check.
4. (d) If an adult dependent care program requests a private agency to conduct a background check, the private agency shall conduct a background check in each state in which the adult dependent care program knows or has reason to know the eligible employee worked or resided during the past 7 years.

Added by Acts 1996, c. 572, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996. Amended by Acts 1997, c. 14, § 1, eff. April 8, 1997; Acts 2000, c. 69, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2000.