Bill would direct DHS to review duplicative criminal background checks across Oregon

The House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services opened a public hearing Feb. 27 on House Bill 3,224, a bill that would require the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) to review existing statutes and report options to consolidate and reduce duplicative criminal background checks for occupations that serve children, older adults and people with disabilities.

Rep. Nancy Nathanson, sponsor of the bill, told the committee that dozens of occupations already require background checks and that similar jobs frequently require separate, sequential checks. “Dozens of occupations in the private and public sector require a criminal background check, like home care workers, school employees, dentists, physicians, counselors and therapists,” Nathanson said. She outlined examples in which the same worker has been required to get multiple checks for the same client or workplace because different agencies or programs use different…