A bill that has passed the House would require criminal background checks for prospective employees of nursing homes.

The Democratic-controlled chamber approved the measure 56-40 Tuesday. Applicants' names and fingerprints would be run through state and national databases.

Midway Democrat Carl Rollins, who sponsored the bill, said Kentucky would get $3 million in federal grant money to initiate the program and fund it until May 2014. The program would then cost the state about $1 million a year.

The proposal met resistance from House members over cost and privacy concerns. A floor amendment to sunset the bill once the federal grant money runs out failed by two votes.

The measure will move to the Senate for consideration.