Florida

Discussion

Florida: Expanded Background Screening Requirements for Care Providers

Effective July 1, 2026, SB 1168 amends Florida’s Level 2 background screening requirements for individuals employed by or volunteering with care providers and other qualified entities. The bill adds several new offenses to the list of disqualifying crimes, including DUI manslaughter, domestic violence, offenses against intellectual property, offenses against computer users and systems, animal cruelty, counterfeiting of driver’s licenses or identification cards, threats and extortion, bribery, and introducing contraband into county detention facilities. The law also closes a loophole by prohibiting individuals screened through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse from denying or failing to acknowledge prior arrests, even where those records have been sealed or expunged. Employers in the health care, childcare, elder care, and education sectors that rely on Level 2 screenings in Florida should update their background check protocols to reflect the expanded list of disqualifying offenses.

 

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