Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Commerce & Labor Committee

HB 2631

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to criminal history background checks by state agencies.

Sponsors:  Representatives Conway, Clements, Wood and Kenney; by request of Liquor Control Board and Gambling Commission.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Clarifies authority for the Liquor Control Board and Gambling Commission to conduct national criminal history background checks using the FBI database.

Hearing Date:  2/6/02

Staff:  Sydney Forrester (786‑7120).

Background:

Both the Gambling Commission and the Liquor Control Board are charged with conducting criminal history background checks for the purpose of licensing.  Both agencies access the FBI database through the Washington State Patrol.  The provisions for conducting these checks through the FBI database are currently in regulation instead of statute.

The FBI recently reviewed state statutes and issued a requirement that language authorizing national criminal background checks be placed in statute in order to allow continued access to its database.  The agencies were granted a grace period until May 1, 2002, to bring their statutes into compliance with federal law.

Summary of Bill:

The gambling statute and the liquor licensing statute are amended to reference agency authority to access the FBI database for the purpose of conducting criminal history background checks for license applicants.

Rules Authority:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule‑making powers of the agency.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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