S.B. 145

             1     

BACKGROUND CHECK AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             5     
House Sponsor: Mike K. McKell

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Public Safety Code regarding criminal background check
             10      information.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    clarifies that criminal history record information that does not relate to a conviction
             14      may not be released to an entity requesting an employment background check.
             15      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             16          None
             17      Other Special Clauses:
             18          None
             19      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             20      AMENDS:
             21           53-10-108 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 239
             22     
             23      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             24          Section 1. Section 53-10-108 is amended to read:
             25           53-10-108. Restrictions on access, use, and contents of division records -- Limited
             26      use of records for employment purposes -- Challenging accuracy of records -- Usage fees
             27      -- Missing children records -- Penalty for misuse of records.


             28          (1) Dissemination of information from a criminal history record or warrant of arrest
             29      information from division files is limited to:
             30          (a) criminal justice agencies for purposes of administration of criminal justice and for
             31      employment screening by criminal justice agencies;
             32          (b) noncriminal justice agencies or individuals for any purpose authorized by statute,
             33      executive order, court rule, court order, or local ordinance;
             34          (c) agencies or individuals for the purpose of obtaining required clearances connected
             35      with foreign travel or obtaining citizenship;
             36          (d) (i) agencies or individuals pursuant to a specific agreement with a criminal justice
             37      agency to provide services required for the administration of criminal justice; and
             38          (ii) the agreement shall specifically authorize access to data, limit the use of the data to
             39      purposes for which given, and ensure the security and confidentiality of the data;
             40          (e) agencies or individuals for the purpose of a preplacement adoptive study, in
             41      accordance with the requirements of Sections 78B-6-128 and 78B-6-130 ;
             42          (f) (i) agencies and individuals as the commissioner authorizes for the express purpose
             43      of research, evaluative, or statistical activities pursuant to an agreement with a criminal justice
             44      agency; and
             45          (ii) private security agencies through guidelines established by the commissioner for
             46      employment background checks for their own employees and prospective employees;
             47          (g) a qualifying entity for employment background checks for their own employees and
             48      persons who have applied for employment with the qualifying entity; and
             49          (h) other agencies and individuals as the commissioner authorizes and finds necessary
             50      for protection of life and property and for offender identification, apprehension, and
             51      prosecution pursuant to an agreement.
             52          (2) An agreement under Subsection (1)(f) or (1)(h) shall specifically authorize access
             53      to data, limit the use of data to research, evaluative, or statistical purposes, preserve the
             54      anonymity of individuals to whom the information relates, and ensure the confidentiality and
             55      security of the data.
             56          (3) (a) Before requesting information under Subsection (1)(g), a qualifying entity must
             57      obtain a signed waiver from the person whose information is requested.
             58          (b) The waiver must notify the signee:


             59          (i) that a criminal history background check will be conducted;
             60          (ii) who will see the information; and
             61          (iii) how the information will be used.
             62          (c) Information received by a qualifying entity under Subsection (1)(g) may only be:
             63          (i) available to persons involved in the hiring or background investigation of the
             64      employee; and
             65          (ii) used for the purpose of assisting in making an employment or promotion decision.
             66          (d) A person who disseminates or uses information obtained from the division under
             67      Subsection (1)(g) for purposes other than those specified under Subsection (3)(c), in addition to
             68      any penalties provided under this section, is subject to civil liability.
             69          (e) A qualifying entity that obtains information under Subsection (1)(g) shall provide
             70      the employee or employment applicant an opportunity to:
             71          (i) review the information received as provided under Subsection (8); and
             72          (ii) respond to any information received.
             73          (f) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             74      division may make rules to implement this Subsection (3).
             75          (g) (i) The applicant fingerprint card fee under Subsection (1)(g) is $20.
             76          (ii) The name check fee under Subsection (1)(g) is $15.
             77          (iii) These fees remain in effect until changed by the division through the process under
             78      Section 63J-1-504 .
             79          (iv) Funds generated under Subsections (3)(g)(i), (3)(g)(ii), and (8)(b) shall be
             80      deposited in the General Fund as a dedicated credit by the department to cover the costs
             81      incurred in providing the information.
             82          (h) The division or its employees are not liable for defamation, invasion of privacy,
             83      negligence, or any other claim in connection with the contents of information disseminated
             84      under Subsection (1)(g).
             85          (4) (a) Any criminal history record information obtained from division files may be
             86      used only for the purposes for which it was provided and may not be further disseminated,
             87      except under Subsections (4)(b) and (c).
             88          (b) A criminal history provided to an agency pursuant to Subsection (1)(e) may be
             89      provided by the agency to the person who is the subject of the history, another licensed


             90      child-placing agency, or the attorney for the adoptive parents for the purpose of facilitating an
             91      adoption.
             92          (c) A criminal history of a defendant provided to a criminal justice agency under
             93      Subsection (1)(a) may also be provided by the prosecutor to a defendant's defense counsel,
             94      upon request during the discovery process, for the purpose of establishing a defense in a
             95      criminal case.
             96          [(5) If an individual has no prior criminal convictions, criminal history record
             97      information contained in the division's computerized criminal history files may not include
             98      arrest or disposition data concerning an individual who has been acquitted, the person's charges
             99      dismissed, or when no complaint against the person has been filed.]
             100          (5) The division may not disseminate criminal history record information to qualifying
             101      entities under Subsection (1)(g) regarding employment background checks if the information is
             102      related to charges:
             103          (a) that have been declined for prosecution;
             104          (b) that have been dismissed; or
             105          (c) regarding which a person has been acquitted.
             106          (6) (a) This section does not preclude the use of the division's central computing
             107      facilities for the storage and retrieval of criminal history record information.
             108          (b) This information shall be stored so it cannot be modified, destroyed, or accessed by
             109      unauthorized agencies or individuals.
             110          (7) Direct access through remote computer terminals to criminal history record
             111      information in the division's files is limited to those agencies authorized by the commissioner
             112      under procedures designed to prevent unauthorized access to this information.
             113          (8) (a) The commissioner shall establish procedures to allow an individual right of
             114      access to review and receive a copy of the individual's criminal history report.
             115          (b) A processing fee for the right of access service, including obtaining a copy of the
             116      individual's criminal history report under Subsection (8)(a) is $15. This fee remains in effect
             117      until changed by the commissioner through the process under Section 63J-1-504 .
             118          (c) (i) The commissioner shall establish procedures for an individual to challenge the
             119      completeness and accuracy of criminal history record information contained in the division's
             120      computerized criminal history files regarding that individual.


             121          (ii) These procedures shall include provisions for amending any information found to
             122      be inaccurate or incomplete.
             123          (9) The private security agencies as provided in Subsection (1)(f)(ii):
             124          (a) shall be charged for access; and
             125          (b) shall be registered with the division according to rules made by the division under
             126      Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
             127          (10) Before providing information requested under this section, the division shall give
             128      priority to criminal justice agencies needs.
             129          (11) (a) It is a class B misdemeanor for a person to knowingly or intentionally access,
             130      use, disclose, or disseminate a record created, maintained, or to which access is granted by the
             131      division or any information contained in a record created, maintained, or to which access is
             132      granted by the division for a purpose prohibited or not permitted by statute, rule, regulation, or
             133      policy of a governmental entity.
             134          (b) A person who discovers or becomes aware of any unauthorized use of records
             135      created or maintained, or to which access is granted by the division shall inform the
             136      commissioner and the director of the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification of the
             137      unauthorized use.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-24-14 6:27 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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