BILL REQ. #:  S-1657.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/23/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to creating a pilot program for electronic fingerprinting technology; adding a new section to chapter 28A.310 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the technology used for criminal history record information background checks for employment purposes are rapidly increasing in Washington. Gathering fingerprints electronically not only reduces the number of rejected fingerprints by improving the accuracy and quality of prints, but it also reduces the turnaround time for gathering criminal background checks for prospective employees.
     The legislature has learned that electronic fingerprinting technology is currently limited in the state for noncriminal justice purposes. There are no public or private sector fingerprinting service centers to accommodate individuals applying for noncriminal justice employment or licensing. The legislature further finds that creating a pilot program, by strategically placing several electronic fingerprinting devices in government offices throughout the state, will help employers and prospective employees to more easily gather and transmit data for noncriminal justice purposes.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.310 RCW to read as follows:
     After the results of a background check for noncriminal justice purposes have been obtained and transmitted to the requesting party, the electronic files of the fingerprint images shall be destroyed. The electronic files containing the fingerprint images that are gathered and transmitted pursuant to this section shall not be retained by the Washington state patrol, the educational service district, or any state or local agency or by any private party hired to gather or transmit the electronic fingerprints.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The amount of two hundred seventy thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the state general fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, to the superintendent of public instruction. The amount in this section is provided solely to purchase an electronic fingerprinting device for each educational service district, to be used for noncriminal justice purposes.