SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6161

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions, January 28, 2000

Title:  An act relating to criminal history record checks of finalist candidates for certain staff positions of the state investment board.

Brief Description:  Changing record checks for the state investment board.

Sponsors:  Senators Snyder, Loveland and Sellar.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions:  1/27/2000, 1/28/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE, HOUSING & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Gardner, Hale, Heavey, Rasmussen, T. Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff:  Susan Jones (786-7784)

Background:  As a result of 1999 legislation, the State Investment Board is allowed to conduct both state and national criminal history record checks on certain prospective employees who may have authority for or access to State Investment Board funds, data systems, or security systems.  However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will only conduct national criminal history background checks for state agencies if these checks are mandatory under state law.  Because the State Investment Board checks are allowable but not mandatory, the FBI will not conduct the checks.

Summary of Bill:  Criminal history background checks are mandatory for each finalist candidate for State Investment Board exempt board staff positions and other positions with authority for or access to State Investment Board funds, data systems or security systems.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This is really a housekeeping bill.  The FBI wanted the language to be mandatory rather than permissive so the State Investment Board could not pick and choose who to run background checks on.  That was not the State Investment Board's intent; however, in order for this law to be effective, this change is necessary.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  James F. Parker, State Investment Board (pro).