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: Senator Kohl-Welles; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 2/2/05, 2/7/05 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5389 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Oke, Ranking Minority Member; Fraser, Morton, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff: Curt Gavigan (786-7437)

Background: The Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) does not have the express authority to require a complete record check for prospective employees, volunteers, or contractors.

Government agencies and other employees 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 Substitute Bill: The Parks and Recreation Commission must adopt rules establishing criminal history record information searches and fingerprinting for certain employees. The affected individuals are applicants, volunteers, and contractors with unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults; who collect or disburse cash; or who process credit or debit card transactions. The record checks will be done through the State Patrol criminal identification section and may include a national check from the FBI. Permanent employees of the Commission, employed as of the effective date of this bill, are exempt from the record check requirement.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute bill requires the Commission to adopt rules "establishing" the requirements for record checks. The original bill required the Commission to adopt rules that "may" require a record check.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: Background checks and fingerprinting for Commission applicants, volunteers, and contractors who would work with vulnerable individuals and collect funds, would help protect the public.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Sen. Kohl-Welles, prime sponsor; Fred Romero, Parks and Recreation Commission.