BILL REQ. #:  S-4997.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/03/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to a record check of a metropolitan park district's job applicants, volunteers, and independent contractors; and amending RCW 35.61.130.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 35.61.130 and 1969 c 54 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A metropolitan park district has the right of eminent domain, and may purchase, acquire and condemn lands lying within or without the boundaries of said park district, for public parks, parkways, boulevards, aviation landings and playgrounds, and may condemn such lands to widen, alter and extend streets, avenues, boulevards, parkways, aviation landings and playgrounds, to enlarge and extend existing parks, and to acquire lands for the establishment of new parks, boulevards, parkways, aviation landings and playgrounds. The right of eminent domain shall be exercised and instituted pursuant to resolution of the board of park commissioners and conducted in the same manner and under the same procedure as is or may be provided by law for the exercise of the power of eminent domain by incorporated cities and towns of the state of Washington in the acquisition of property rights: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Funds to pay for condemnation allowed by this section shall be raised only as specified in this chapter.
     (2) The board of park commissioners shall have power to employ counsel, and to regulate, manage and control the parks, parkways, boulevards, streets, avenues, aviation landings and playgrounds under its control, and to provide for park ((policemen)) police, for a secretary of the board of park commissioners and for all necessary employees, to fix their salaries and duties.
     (3) The board of park commissioners shall have power to improve, acquire, extend and maintain, open and lay out, parks, parkways, boulevards, avenues, aviation landings and playgrounds, within or without the park district, and to authorize, conduct and manage the letting of boats, or other amusement apparatus, the operation of bath houses, the purchase and sale of foodstuffs or other merchandise, the giving of vocal or instrumental concerts or other entertainments, the establishment and maintenance of aviation landings and playgrounds, and generally the management and conduct of such forms of recreation or business as it shall judge desirable or beneficial for the public, or for the production of revenue for expenditure for park purposes; and may pay out moneys for the maintenance and improvement of any such parks, parkways, boulevards, avenues, aviation landings and playgrounds as now exist, or may hereafter be acquired, within or without the limits of said city and for the purchase of lands within or without the limits of said city, whenever it deems the purchase to be for the benefit of the public and for the interest of the park district, and for the maintenance and improvement thereof and for all expenses incidental to its duties: PROVIDED, That all parks, boulevards, parkways, aviation landings and playgrounds shall be subject to the police regulations of the city within whose limits they lie.
     (4) For all employees, volunteers, or independent contractors, hired or appointed after the effective date of this section, who may, in the course of their work or volunteer activity with the park district, have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults, or be responsible for collecting or disbursing cash or processing credit/debit card transactions, park districts shall require a record check through the Washington state patrol criminal identification system under RCW 43.43.830 through 43.43.834, 10.97.030, and 10.97.050 and through the federal bureau of investigation before hiring or appointing the employee, volunteer, or independent contractor. The record check shall include a fingerprint check using a complete Washington state criminal identification fingerprint card. The park district shall provide a copy of the record report to the prospective employee, volunteer, or independent contractor. When necessary, as determined by the park district, prospective employees, volunteers, or independent contractors may be employed on a conditional basis pending completion of the investigation. If the prospective employee, volunteer, or independent contractor has had a record check within the previous twelve months, the park district may waive the requirement upon receiving a copy of the record. The park district may in its discretion require that the prospective employee, volunteer, or independent contractor pay the costs associated with the record check.