SB 1074, An Act Requiring Long- Term Care Facility Residents to Undergo a Criminal History and Sexual Offender Registry Search

The ACLU-CT believes in a society where all people, including those who have been convicted or accused of a crime, have equal opportunity to contribute to society and build successful and fulfilling lives. One of the biggest injustices faced by people living with a criminal record are the myriad of collateral consequences flowing from that criminal record, which persist for years, even lifetimes, after a person finishes the punishment they were sentenced to. This legislation takes a positive step forward in approaching background checks by using an individualized assessment that considers factors like inaccurate information, the lack of relationship between the nature of the crime and long-term care, evidence of rehabilitation, and time elapsed. But rather than automatically make an individualized assessment apply to everyone that is undergoing a background check, as drafted, this legislation requires that people in need of long-term care apply for a waiver to request an individualized assessment.