A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT requiring criminal background checks for current and future EMS personnel.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 131E‑159 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(g)	All applicants for initial or renewal EMS credentialing, as well as individuals currently holding a valid EMS credential, shall be subject to the following criminal background checks:
(1)	A statewide criminal background check through the Administrative Office of the Courts. 
(2)	If the individual applying for EMS credentialing has resided in North Carolina for less than five years prior to application, the individual must also submit a comprehensive national criminal background check at his or her own expense.
The Administrative Office of the Courts shall provide electronic access to its criminal history database to the Department. Information contained in this database shall be used to identify any individual with a criminal conviction history either applying for initial or renewal EMS credentialing, or currently holding a valid EMS credential under Article 7 of Chapter 131E of the General Statutes. The Administrative Office of the Courts may charge a reasonable fee to access its criminal history database. The background checks required by this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with rules to be adopted by the Medical Care Commission. Information obtained by the Department under this subsection is confidential and is not a public record."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.