SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1420

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions, March 30, 1999

Title:  An act relating to criminal history record checks of prospective appointees and employees of the state investment board.

Brief Description:  Providing a procedure for the state investment board to check the criminal history of prospective appointees and employees.

Sponsors:  Representatives H. Sommers, Huff, Benson, Hatfield, McIntire and Wolfe; by request of State Investment Board.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions:  3/18/99, 3/30/99 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE, HOUSING & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Susan Jones (786-7784)

Background:  The Legislature created the Washington State Investment Board (SIB) in 1981.  The SIB is responsible for safeguarding and investing public trust funds and retirement funds.  The SIB has approximately $46 billion in invested funds.

Currently, the SIB may conduct Washington State criminal history background checks through the Washington State Patrol (WSP).  However, the SIB routinely conducts nationwide searches on candidates for open positions who may have authority over or access to a portion or all of the invested funds.  The current background checks may not be sufficient for candidates who have never lived or worked in Washington State.  National background checks, conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), may provide more safeguards for the SIB funds.

Summary of Bill:  The SIB may require criminal history record checks through WSP and the FBI for candidates of certain positions of authority.  The use of this information is limited and exempt from public disclosure.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.