Background Screening > Clearinghouse Overview
Overview
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities is one of seven state agencies that use "The Clearinghouse" statewide background screening database. The purpose of the Clearinghouse is to provide a single data source for background screening state and contract providers, owners, licensees, employees, volunteers, mentors, and interns. The Clearinghouse allows the results of state and national fingerprint-based criminal history checks on persons qualified as care providers to be shared among specific agencies, thereby reducing duplicative screenings for individuals requiring screening across multiple state agencies.
Specified State Agencies:
- Department of Health
- Department of Children and Families
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation within the Department of Education
- Agency for Health Care Administration
- Agency for Persons with Disabilities
- Department of Elderly Affairs
- Department of Juvenile Justice
As of May 25, 2015, APD providers are to use the Clearinghouse for level 2 background screening. This applies to all screenings for providers, owners, licensees, employers, employees, volunteers, mentors, and interns.
Benefits
Arrest Notifications-When providers screen an individual through the Clearinghouse, the system retains the person’s fingerprints. This allows the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to notify each state agency that has screened the individual of subsequent arrests. The state agency reviews the person’s arrest charge(s), makes a new eligibility decision, and notifies the provider via email to check the Clearinghouse results portal for the person’s new eligibility.
Reduced Screening Costs-The Clearinghouse saves screening costs and applicant/employee resources when the person undergoing screening meets even one of the following conditions:
- The individual has maintained continuous employment for five years and needs a re-check.
- The person is required to have two screenings under different state agencies or funding programs (e.g., one for Medicaid enrollment and one for APD-required provider employment).
- The individual changes employment from one type of provider or program to another (e.g., works for a day program for people with developmental disabilities and moves to a group home or works for a hospital and moves to a pharmacy).
- The individual leaves employment and returns after 90 days (requires a national check only).
- The individual is employed by and/or volunteers with multiple providers/facilities.
Legislation
Changes in law passed during the 2012 legislative session significantly modify background screening for many service providers regulated by a variety of state agencies. House Bill 943 created a “Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse” or “Clearinghouse.” (Section 435.12, Florida Statutes).
