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Bill would tighten who may receive nursing criminal-record results, align Ohio with FBI standards
Summary
House Bill 440 would narrow who at the Ohio Board of Nursing may receive criminal-records results, preserve confidential recovery programs for nurses, and seeks to keep the state's background-check process compliant with FBI/BCI standards; supporters say the bill imposes no new fees for nurses and contains an emergency clause.
The Senate Health Committee heard proponent testimony on House Bill 440 on a technical change to the Board of Nursing's criminal-records procedures that supporters say is needed to maintain compliance with federal standards.
Kelly Hikes, director of government relations and advocacy for the Ohio Nurses Association, told the committee the association is a full proponent now that it is confirmed the measure "creates no new costs or fees for nurses." Hikes said HB 440 "strengthens accountability while maintaining fairness and transparency," preserves confidential recovery programs such as the safe haven and the practice intervention and improvement program, and supports a "just culture" approach that treats human error differently from reckless behavior.
An attorney from the Office of the Attorney General told the committee that the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) and the FBI recently raised concerns that current language in the Ohio Revised Code is too vague about who at the Board of Nursing may receive criminal-records results. The witness said HB 440 specifies recipients to meet federal expectations and avoid operational disruptions.
The bill also includes an emergency clause, the proponent testimony said, and supporters argued the change is targeted and administrative in nature rather than a new regulatory burden. One proponent said the emergency clause is prudent so the state's and federal partners' background-check functions can continue "uninterrupted." The transcript notes leadership anticipated a third hearing next week and a likely vote on the nineteenth, but the scheduling statement was not tied to a named member in the record.
Supporters urged the committee to act quickly to preserve patient safety and workforce stability while protecting nurses' access to rehabilitative pathways. No committee questions were recorded during the Ohio Nurses Association's testimony.
The committee is expected to take further procedural steps next week; the record does not show a final vote in this session.
