Rule 5122-7-21 | Background check on applicants.
(A) The purpose of this rule is to establish policy and procedures for the conducting of background checks on prospective employees of the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services as mandated in section 5119.181 of the Revised Code. The purpose of the background checks will be to determine the fitness of applicants to serve in the positions sought whether in the classified or unclassified service. This rule also outlines the criteria to be applied in evaluating applicants based on information obtained from background checks.
(B)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (B)(2) of this rule, this rule applies to all regional psychiatric hospitals (RPHs) or community support networks (CSNs) of the department and the central office.
(2) This rule does not apply to an applicant who seeks employment with a community support network and the applicant's intended work site is a residential facility as defined in section 5119.34 of the Revised Code. Instead, such an applicant is subject to a background investigation under rule 5122-30-31 of the Administrative Code.
(C) The following definitions shall apply to this rule in addition to or in place of those appearing in rule 5122-1-01 of the Administrative Code.
(1) "Applicant" means any person who is under final consideration for appointment to a position in the classified or unclassified service of the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services.
(D) The following paragraph pertains to crimes bearing a direct and substantial relationship to the position being filled.
(1) In accordance with section 5119.181 of the Revised Code, no appointing authority shall appoint a person to fill a position in the classified or unclassified service if the person has been convicted or has pleaded guilty to a violation of the following:
(a) Any felony contained in the Revised Code, if the felony bears a direct and substantial relationship to the position being filled; or
(b) Any crime contained in the Revised Code constituting a misdemeanor of the first degree and a felony on subsequent offenses if the crime bears a direct and substantial relationship to the position being filled; or
(c) An existing or former law of this state or of any other state or the United States if the law violated is substantially equivalent of any of the offenses described in paragraph (D)(1)(a) or (D)(1)(b) of this rule.
(2) The appointing authority shall determine what constitutes a direct and substantial relationship to the position being filled based on the following factors:
(a) Nature and gravity of the offense. For example, any conviction for a crime during which force was used or implied against another person, such as assault or armed robbery, would have a direct and substantial relationship to any position involving direct client contact;
(b) The length of time since the conviction. For example, convictions occurring more than ten years prior to the application carry less weight than more recent convictions; and
(c) The job duties of the position in question.
(3) Each applicant must be assessed on an individual basis based on the factors listed above.
(E) Procedure prior to hiring
(1) At the time of a conditional offer, the applicant shall be informed that a background check will be conducted.
(2) The following background checks are to be conducted on applicants prior to employment:
(a) For any position involving direct client contact, all previous employers who employed applicant in a similar position shall be contacted;
(b) The applicant's current and immediate prior employers shall be contacted as to work habits and reasons for leaving the employment;
(c) A request for information regarding prior criminal convictions shall be submitted to the law enforcement agency which has jurisdiction in the applicant's current or last area of residence;
(d) Personal references submitted by the applicant should be contacted as to their knowledge of the applicant; and
(e) An applicant shall be fingerprinted via electronic fingerprinting or other approved method, and shall be transmitted to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation (BCI&I) and the federal bureau of investigation (FBI).
The BCI&I's or FBI's response as to any felony convictions or pending criminal charges shall be compared to the information on the application signed by the applicant.
(3) Any falsification on the application which is disclosed by the background checks shall cause the applicant to be removed from further consideration for employment or, if already employed, shall cause the employee to be removed from employment.
(F) If, upon review by the appointing authority or their designee, the background check discloses information that the applicant has displayed character traits which would be detrimental to successful performance in the position sought, or that the applicant has been dismissed for good cause from any public or private service for a reason bearing a direct relationship to the position being filled, or that the applicant has been convicted of a crime bearing a direct and substantial relationship to the position, such applicant shall be precluded from further employment consideration.
(G) The applicable EEO officer shall be kept aware of specific reasons for hiring, or not hiring, an applicant under the provisions of this rule.
(H) All information obtained in the background checks shall be considered confidential. It is not a public record for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person, except the applicant, the appointing authority or their designee, or any hearing officer or court involved in a case denying employment.
(I) Notwithstanding the provisions of this rule, the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services shall conduct a separate criminal background investigation on all applicants for unclassified positions as described by section 124.11 of the Revised Code. All offers of employment to prospective (new) employees shall be made contingent on the successful completion of the background check, including a review of state tax issues.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 10:49 AM
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