HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2660

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to criminal history record checks of finalist candidates for certain staff positions of the state investment board.

Brief Description:  Changing record checks for the state investment board.

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

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Appropriations:  2/1/00, 2/2/00 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/8/00, 97-0.

Passed Senate:  2/29/00, 47-0.

Passed Legislature.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Requires the State Investment Board to request criminal history record checks from the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for certain finalist job candidates.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 29 members:  Representatives Huff, Republican Co-Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co-Chair; Barlean, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; D. Schmidt, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander; Benson; Boldt; Clements; Crouse; Gombosky; Grant; Kagi; Keiser; Kenney; Kessler; Lambert; Linville; Lisk; McMorris; Mulliken; Parlette; Regala; Rockefeller; Ruderman; Sullivan; Sump; Tokuda and Wensman.

Staff:  Denise Graham  (786-7137).

Background:

Legislation enacted in 1999 authorizes the State Investment Board (SIB) to have both state and national criminal history record checks conducted for applicants for positions that have authority for or access to SIB funds, data systems, or security systems.  The new statute allows, but does not require, the SIB to have the criminal record checks conducted by the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  After passage of the legislation, the FBI informed the SIB that it could conduct criminal background and fingerprint checks for state agencies only if state legislation makes such checks mandatory.

Summary of Bill:

The SIB is required to request a criminal history record check through the WSP and through the FBI for certain job candidates.  The SIB must request the record check on each finalist candidate for an exempt staff position or for any other position in which the employee will have access to SIB funds, data or security systems.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This will allow the SIB to get criminal record history checks from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for prospective job candidates.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jim Parker; State Investment Board.