| SB 5774-S.E - DIGEST |
| (DIGEST AS ENACTED) |
Revises background check requirements for the department of social and health services and the department of early learning. |
| VETO MESSAGE ON ESSB 5774 |
| May 8, 2007 |
| To the Honorable President and Members, |
| The Senate of the State of Washington |
| Ladies and Gentlemen: |
| I am returning, without my approval as to Sections 6 and 7, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5774 entitled: |
"AN ACT Relating to revising background check processes." |
| Sections 6 and 7 of this bill establishes a work group, to be convened by the Department of Social and Health Services. The work group's responsibilities include reviewing current laws, rules and practices with respect to sharing confidential information, analyzing how state agencies use background check information to make employment decisions, and examining the need for and feasibility of verifying citizenship or immigration status of persons for whom background checks are required. The work group is to complete an interim report by December 1, 2007, and provide a final report to the Legislature and the Governor by July 1, 2008. The duties of this work group would be redundant with the work completed by the Joint Task Force on Criminal Background Check Processes, which ended two and a half years of work last December. Furthermore, the 2007-2009 operating budget as passed by the Legislature does not contain funding to support the operations of the contemplated work group. |
| For these reasons, I have vetoed Sections 6 and 7 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5774. |
| With the exception of Sections 6 and 7, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5774 is approved. |
| Respectfully submitted, |
| Christine O. Gregoire |
| Governor |