(a)  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary contained in any general or public law, rule, or regulation, any person seeking a license to practice under this chapter, or who is previously licensed and authorized to practice under this chapter and is seeking employment, shall undergo a federal and statewide criminal background check (BCI) that shall be processed prior to receiving a license to practice or to enter into employment.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-34-43

  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Licensed: means the status of qualified individuals who have completed a designated process by which the board of nursing grants permission to individuals accountable and/or responsible for the practice of nursing and to engage in that practice, prohibiting all others from legally doing so. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-34-3
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.

(b)  The applicant shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification for a national criminal records check that shall include fingerprints submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon the discovery of any disqualifying information, the bureau of criminal identification will inform the applicant in writing of the nature of the disqualifying information and, without disclosing the nature of the disqualifying information, will notify the licensing agency or the potential employer in writing that disqualifying information has been discovered.

(c)  The applicant against whom disqualifying information has been found may request that a copy of the criminal background report be sent to the licensing agency or the potential employer. The licensing agency or the potential employer shall make a judgment regarding the issuing of a license.

(d)  In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau of criminal identification shall inform the applicant and the licensing agency or the potential employer in writing of this fact.

(e)  It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to pay for the criminal records check.

History of Section.
P.L. 2011, ch. 238, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 266, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 3.