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101 CMR 15.00 - Criminal Offender Record Checks (CORI) Standards (EOHHS)

MassachusettsregulationMassachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)

What this rule requires your agency to do

  • 1The provider must disseminate CORI only to individuals certified by the Criminal History Systems Board / CHSB, subject to penalties for unauthorized dissemination. (101 CMR 15.11)(101 CMR 15.00 - Criminal Offender Record Checks (CORI) Standards (EOHHS))
  • 2The provider must obtain and consider a CORI for applicants and employees seeking a position that entails the potential for unsupervised contact with program clients. (101 CMR 15.03(1)(a))(101 CMR 15.00 - Criminal Offender Record Checks (CORI) Standards (EOHHS))
  • 3The provider (hiring authority) must complete the CORI investigation only after determining the person is otherwise qualified and making a conditional offer of employment subject to consideration of any criminal record. (101 CMR 15.07(1))(101 CMR 15.00 - Criminal Offender Record Checks (CORI) Standards (EOHHS))
  • 4The provider must maintain documentation and submit to EOHHS periodic compliance review, with non-compliant vendor programs subject to contract termination or other remedial action. (101 CMR 15.10)(101 CMR 15.00 - Criminal Offender Record Checks (CORI) Standards (EOHHS))
  • 5The provider must not permit any candidate to commence employment until the CORI investigation and clearance are complete. (101 CMR 15.07)(101 CMR 15.00 - Criminal Offender Record Checks (CORI) Standards (EOHHS))
  • 6The provider must, before taking adverse action based on CORI, give the candidate a copy of the CORI, the regulations, correction procedures, and an opportunity to dispute the accuracy of the record. (101 CMR 15.09)(101 CMR 15.00 - Criminal Offender Record Checks (CORI) Standards (EOHHS))
  • 7The provider must obtain a CORI where necessary to comply with other legal requirements or where otherwise deemed relevant to the duties and qualifications of the position, including for employees applying for a new position within the covered scope. (101 CMR 15.03(1)(b)-(c))(101 CMR 15.00 - Criminal Offender Record Checks (CORI) Standards (EOHHS))
  • 8The provider must conduct a documented suitability review of any Table A or in-timeframe Table B offense, weighing factors such as the time and circumstances of the offense, the candidate's age, job relevance, rehabilitation evidence, and other relevant information before making an adverse decision. (101 CMR 15.09)(101 CMR 15.00 - Criminal Offender Record Checks (CORI) Standards (EOHHS))

Applies to: home care, personal care, HCBS, and other EOHHS vendor programs whose staff may have unsupervised contact with clients

101 CMR 15.00 establishes the standards EOHHS agencies and their vendor/contracted programs must follow when obtaining and using Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) for applicants and employees. It requires CORI checks for staff with potential for unsupervised contact with program clients, governs when checks may be run (only after a conditional offer to an otherwise-qualified candidate), requires a documented suitability review of disqualifying offenses under the crime tables, restricts dissemination to certified individuals, and subjects vendor programs to EOHHS compliance review.

Regulatory information, not legal advice — always confirm against the cited official source. Verification reduces error; it does not certify compliance.