CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

             ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6398

                    Chapter 27, Laws of 1996

                        54th Legislature

                      1996 Regular Session

     SPECIAL COMMITMENT CENTER--EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECKS

                    EFFECTIVE DATE:  6/6/96

Passed by the Senate February 6, 1996   YEAS 47   NAYS 0             JOEL PRITCHARD President of the Senate Passed by the House February 26, 1996   YEAS 95   NAYS 0

CERTIFICATE I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6398 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

CLYDE BALLARD Speaker of the       House of Representatives

MARTY BROWN                             Secretary

Approved March 7, 1996 Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.

FILED                      March 7, 1996 - 10:17 a.m.

MIKE LOWRY Governor of the State of Washington

Secretary of State                   State of Washington

          _______________________________________________

               ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6398

          _______________________________________________

             Passed Legislature - 1996 Regular Session

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Hargrove, Long and Oke; by request of Department of Social and Health Services)

Read first time 01/31/96.

Providing for background checks of employees at the special commitment center.

    AN ACT Relating to background checks of employees at the special commitment center; and adding a new section to chapter 71.09 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 71.09 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The safety and security needs of the secure facility operated by the department of social and health services pursuant to RCW 71.09.060(1) make it vital that employees working in the facility meet necessary character, suitability, and competency qualifications.  The secretary shall require a record check through the Washington state patrol criminal identification system under chapter 10.97 RCW and through the federal bureau of investigation.  The record check must include a fingerprint check using a complete Washington state criminal identification fingerprint card.  The criminal history record checks shall be at the expense of the department.  The secretary shall use the information only in making the initial employment or engagement decision, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.  Further dissemination or use of the record is prohibited.

    (2) This section applies to all current employees hired prior to the effective date of this act who have not previously submitted to a department of social and health services criminal history records check.  The secretary shall use the information only in determining whether the current employee meets the necessary character, suitability, and competency requirements for employment or engagement.

    Passed the Senate February 6, 1996.

    Passed the House February 26, 1996.

Approved by the Governor March 7, 1996.

    Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 7, 1996.