Florida Electronic Fingerprinting Services – Tampa, FL

The Florida Legislature should consider –

A Certification of Rehabilitation for its Citizens

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal History Reports are a Barrier to Occupational Licensing Employment in Florida and its Citizenry. One standard is necessary. The Florida Legislature should consider Certification of Rehabilitation as the standard for the Rehabilitation of its citizens.

Seven Florida State Agencies use Occupational License to background screen the citizenry. Each agency has differing values in determining the rehabilitative proof of the citizenry, which is the issue.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement should determine the standard for a rehabilitative certification. The standards applied evenly for citizens who seek respite from employment discrimination based on a criminal historical past.

FDLE background screening policies and applicant criminal history requirements are mandatory when working with vulnerable seniors, disable, and children. Florida State Statues.435.05. – Exceptions/waivers are determined on a case-by-case determination. The seven Florida State agencies/departments have a Background Screening Unit. The background screening unit is trained to review the applicant’s application for compliance with applicable state laws, policies, and procedures.

A Certificate of Rehabilitation is an appropriate solution for those who completed Rehabilitation and are employable in their occupational field. The goal is to “show the applicant’s willingness to meet rehabilitation standards,” thus removing barriers to employment and licensure in background screening licensing units.

Twelve states have adopted this protocol for occupational licenses – California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.

Job applicants often surprised and embarrassed to find their past criminal history stopped them from attaining fulfilling employment. Many want to see the criminal history report, but it bases the disclosure of the information on the State Department’s licensing background unit.

An example of an occupational employment applicant denied a promotional opportunity for building and maintaining school properties.
A construction promotion derailed. An applicant was arrested at 19 for public urination. The Division Manager worked with the applicant for over five years and understood the arrest was 12 years ago. The company unfamiliar with the FDLE criminal history screening, nor AHCA background screening units didn’t understand the process. The company’s attorney became involved because an Exemption for Disqualification was requested.

A simple arrest can derail a promising future.

In a tight labor market, these situations are going to occur more often.

Equal societal laws protect citizens and offer a perfect union. However, it does not stop the law’s from being a punitive disruptive force in the lives of productive citizens who have proven successful Rehabilitation.

Employers, Employees, Vendors, and Contractors must adhere to FDLE criminal history checks. The health, safety, and choice of citizens are priorities when making laws and status.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Division of Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS), is the central repository for criminal history information for the state of Florida.

State and national criminal history information are available to governmental agencies for licensing and employment as allowed under Florida law.

The average age of misdemeanor adult arrest in Florida is 18 – 34 adults. The average working-age Floridians in the health care fields 18 – 65.

In critical fields like home care, childcare, and simple nursing, an arrest can stop a bright career. This circumstance disproportionately affects 172,378 Florida women who are single parents.

Florida’s poverty rate is 20.01% and climbing, which is higher than the national average and much higher for disadvantaged communities.

Criminal records can often make it difficult to get employment in your chosen field or a field with an occupational license. The fields are regulated by license or state statute for criminal history reporting like – medical, pharmacy, nursing, home-care, childcare, financial services, real estate transaction, construction, and appraisers.

These employment occupations require a license, certificate, or credential per state regulation of professions. Criminal record checks are mandatory level 2 background screening requirements per state statute. Moral Turpitude Statues or Good Moral Character Clauses and the pool of potential employment applicants who can fulfill basic FDLE criminal history and employment screening requirements shrink.

Exceptions/waivers – determined on an individual case-by-case basis. Each of the 7 Florida State agencies/department has a Background Screening Unit. The background screening unit is trained to review the applicant’s application for compliance with applicable state laws, policies, and procedures.

What are Occupational Licenses?

An occupational license, certification, or credential required sets professional standards by state and federal agencies by which professional license holders can practice. The Licenses set minimal professional standards to ensure public safety and professional standard compliance. Each state has statuses resulting in license violations.

Fees associated with obtaining an occupational license can be prohibitive for newly graduated students and some trained professionals.

Example license fee below, do not include the cost of reapplying through Exception or Waiver.

The average cost of Florida Occupational Professional License (Fees – License**, Fingerprinting, and Testing)

• Registered Nurse $830.00
• Certified Nursing Assistant $350.00
• Occupational Therapy Assistant $550.00
• Physical Therapy Assistant $480.00
• Private Detective $250.00
• Radiologic Technologists $600.00
• Real Estate Appraiser $450.00
• Respiratory Therapist $480.00
• School Bus Driver $150.00
• Initial CPA License $150.00
• Dental Hygienist $535.00
• General Contractor $10k or more
• Real Estate Agent $500.00