HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  SB 6431

Title:  An act relating to dissemination of criminal history record information to the Washington horse racing commission.

Brief Description:  Allowing for the dissemination of criminal history record information to the horse racing commission.

Sponsors:  Senators Heavey, West, Prentice, Hale, Winsley, Horn, Gardner and Roach; by request of Horse Racing Commission.

                    Brief Summary of Bill

CAllows the Horse Racing Commission to receive criminal history record information that includes non-conviction data for the purposes of licensing.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Staff:  Trudes Hutcheson (786-7384).

Background:

The Washington State Horse Racing Commission licenses, regulates, and supervises parimutuel horse racing in Washington state.  The Horse Racing Commission has five commissioners and four ex officio legislative members.

The commission requires all individuals who participate in racing at a race track to be licensed.  Examples of individuals licensed by the commission include jockeys, horse owners, trainers, veterinarians, horse grooms, and exercise riders.  The Horse Racing Commission also licenses racing associations.

For purposes of licensing, the commission considers the criminal background of each applicant.  An applicant's criminal background may contain two types of data.  Conviction data includes all arrests, detentions, or other formal charges and their disposition.  In addition, conviction data includes arrests that are pending and less than one year old.  Non-conviction data includes arrests, detentions, and formal criminal charges that have not led to convictions and that are not currently pending.

The circumstances under which a criminal justice agency may release non-conviction data include:  (1) releasing the data to another criminal justice agency; (2) releasing the data pursuant to a statute, ordinance, executive order, or court rule; (3) releasing the data to an individual or agency pursuant to a contract to provide services related to the administration of criminal justice; and (4) releasing the data to an individual or agency for research, evaluative, or statistical activities.

Summary of Bill:

The Horse Racing Commission is authorized to receive criminal history record information that includes non-conviction data for use in licensing background investigations and for use in determining suitability for involvement in horse racing activities.  Non-conviction data obtained by the Horse Racing Commission may only be released to other criminal justice agencies.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

                 Office of Program Research