What's happening
This bill requires state and federal criminal background checks for physician licensure in New York, with applicants covering the costs.
Why it matters
Adds a new layer of vetting for physicians, aiming to enhance patient safety and public trust by ensuring that those granted medical licenses have no serious criminal background.
May deter individuals with past criminal convictions from pursuing or obtaining licensure, potentially impacting workforce diversity and second-chance opportunities for reformed individuals.
Shifts the financial burden of background checks onto applicants, which could raise barriers for some candidates, particularly those with limited means or international medical graduates.
Signals a broader move toward increased regulatory scrutiny in healthcare professions, which may set a precedent for other licensed occupations in the state.
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Who cares
Physician license applicants
They would have to pass state and federal criminal background checks satisfactory to the board and pay for both checks.
Board reviewing physician licensure applications
The bill would make satisfactory results from both criminal background checks a condition of licensure.
Physician applicants with criminal records
Their eligibility for licensure would depend in part on whether the board finds their state and federal background checks satisfactory.
Headline styles
Background Checks for Physicians
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to rules
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6620
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
July 3, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BIAGGI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring state and federal criminal background checks as a condition for licensure as a physician
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6524 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
(6-a) Criminal background check: pass a state and federal criminal background check satisfactory to the board. The applicant shall be responsible for the cost of both such background checks;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13063-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring state and federal criminal background checks as a condition for licensure as a physician
Purpose
To ensure that patients in the state of New York are in the safest hands while receiving treatment from a medical professional.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 6524 of the education law by adding 6-a, a new subdivision. This amendment will require applicants seeking a physi- cian's license to pass both state and federal background checks. The applicant shall be financially responsible for such background checks.
Section 2 sets forth an effective date.
Justification
New York is one of 14 states that does not require prospective physi- cians to undergo federal and/or state criminal background checks in order to practice medicine. Currently, New York depends on medical professionals to self-disclose any background of criminal history on license applications, and to then notify their medical board of any new charges. Unfortunately, disclosure of this information does not always happen, and it is the patients they serve who are left most vulnerable.
It is necessary that state and federal background checks are required in order for an applicant to obtain a physician's license because this measure will ensure the safety of patients and promote the integrity of the healthcare system in New York State. The addition of background checks provides an early check on healthcare professionals and it demon- strates that New York has done its due diligence in assessing the safety and competence of physician applicants for licensure.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.