31-7-352. Registry check required; validation of licensing.

A registry check of an owner, applicant, or employee shall be required prior to a criminal background check and shall be initiated by the applicable facility. A registry check shall be performed by such facility and may include reviewing registries of any other states in which the applicant previously resided. If an applicant has not resided in this state for at least two years, the facility shall conduct registry checks of each state in which the applicant resided for the previous two years, as represented by such applicant or as otherwise determined by the applicable facility.#

If applicable to an owner, applicant, or employee, a query of available information maintained by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, the Secretary of State, or other applicable licensing boards shall be conducted prior to a criminal background check to validate that such individual’s professional license is in good standing.#

Except as provided in subsection (c) of Code Section 31-7-359, nothing in this Code section shall be construed to limit the responsibility or ability of a facility to screen owners, applicants, or employees through additional methods.#