PROVIDENCE – Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin last week announced that he has submitted legislation to implement a criminal-records-check program for long-term-care providers who have direct patient access.

In 2010, the R.I. Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the R.I. Office of Attorney General applied for and received a $1.3 million grant to implement the national criminal-records-check program. The funds were added to the attorney general’s fiscal 2012 budget, although the General Assembly failed to pass enabling legislation.

The attorney general sought and received a one-year extension, but the state only has one more legislative session to enact the enabling legislation and implement the program or will lose the federal grant money and will have to fund the program with state dollars. •