SENATE BILL REPORT
2SHB 1849
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines, February 28, 2002
Ways & Means, March 4, 2002
Title: An act relating to a record check of the parks and recreation commission's job applicants, volunteers, and independent contractors.
Brief Description: Requiring the parks and recreation commission to have a record check performed on certain job applicants.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Pearson, Jackley, Doumit, Eickmeyer, Rockefeller, Cox, Barlean, Armstrong, Bush and O'Brien; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines: 2/27/02, 2/28/02 [DPA‑WM].
Ways & Means: 3/4/02 [DPA (NPS)].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES
Majority Report: Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Hargrove, McDonald, Morton, Oke, Snyder, Spanel and Stevens.
Staff: Kari Guy (786‑7437)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: Do pass as amended by Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines.
Signed by Senators Brown, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Fraser, Hewitt, Honeyford, Kline, Kohl‑Welles, Parlette, Poulsen, Rasmussen, Rossi, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Zarelli.
Staff: Richard Ramsey (786-7412)
Background: The Parks and Recreation Commission does not have the express authority to require a record check or fingerprinting of prospective employees, volunteers, or contractors.
Government agencies and other employers are concerned that children and vulnerable adults could potentially be victimized by someone who is an employee, volunteer, or contractor of the agency or employer. Background checks of these prospective employees, volunteers, and contractors could help identify people who have had a record of improper conduct in the past.
Summary of Amended Bill: The commission must adopt rules that require a record check and fingerprinting of current employees, job applicants, volunteers, and independent contractors who work with children or vulnerable adults, or who are responsible for collecting or disbursing money or processing credit card transactions. The record check and fingerprinting is conducted through the Washington State Patrol Criminal Identification System and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The commission must require the destruction of any fingerprints, copies of fingerprints, or their facsimiles after the screening of the prospective employee job applicant, volunteer, or independent contractor is completed.
Amended Bill Compared to Second Substitute Bill: The striking amendment requires that current employees receive background checks.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For (Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines): State Parks has been lucky not to have any incidents involving employees or volunteers, and not to have any tort claims against the state. This bill will allow State Parks to conduct background checks using a faster system, so any criminal history will be found before an employee or volunteer begins.
Testimony Against (Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines): None.
Testified (Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines): Rita Cooper, State Parks and Recreation Commission (pro).
Testimony For (Ways & Means): State Parks has been lucky to not have had violators work in parks. This will result in a significant reduction in other services, but State Parks will fund with current authority in order to accomplish this important activity.
Testimony Against (Ways & Means): There's a concern about the cost and the testing of all State Parks employees.
Testified (Ways & Means): Rita Cooper, State Parks and Recreation Commission (pro); Lynn McKinnon, WA Public Employees Assn. (concerns).