Title: An act relating to the joint task force on criminal background check processes.

Brief Description: Extending and adding a member to the joint task force on criminal background check processes.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections (originally sponsored by Representatives B. Sullivan, Darneille, Chase, Appleton, Upthegrove and Lovick).

Brief History:

Criminal Justice & Corrections: 2/15/05, 2/22/05 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/10/05, 94-0.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/11/05, 48-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Pearson, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kagi, Kirby and Strow.

Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Background:

The Joint Task Force on Criminal Background Check Processes (Task Force) was created by the passage of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2556 during the 2004 legislative session. The legislation required the Task Force to review and make recommendations regarding how to improve the state's criminal background check processes. The legislation also required the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

The Task Force held six public meetings in 2004, and made five recommendations. One of the Task Force's recommendations was to expand the membership and extend the life of the Task Force in order to consider matters that were raised at the 2004 meetings of the Task Force but that require further analysis and discussion.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The membership of the Task Force is expanded to include two additional members. One representative is from a for-profit entity that primarily serves children or vulnerable adults. The other representative is from an organization that serves as a clearinghouse for other nonprofit organizations in the state and that recruits volunteers and trains nonprofit boards of directors.

The Task Force is authorized to continue its work until December 31, 2005, at which time it will report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

The membership of the Task Force is expanded to include a representative of an organization that primarily serves children, a representative of an organization that primarily serves vulnerable adults, and a representative selected by the state's long-term care ombudsman. The representative of an organization that serves as a clearinghouse for other nonprofits is made an ex officio non-voting member. Two topics are added to the list of topics that the Task Force must consider: 1.) What is the feasibility of establishing a state registration program for private youth sports coaches under which some or all of such persons are required to obtain and disclose to prospective clients and employers a copy of the results of their fingerprint-based criminal background checks; and 2.) A review of the practices of the department of social and health services with respect to checking the backgrounds of its employees, applicants for employment, and candidates for promotion.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: This bill is a recommendation from the Task Force on Criminal Background Checks. It adds a member to the Task Force and extends the Task Force one additional year so that it can do its work. The Task Force has a little more work to do and more recommendations will be forthcoming in the future.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative B. Sullivan, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.