Fiscal Note

HB0196S01 - Higher Education Criminal Background Checks

State Impact:
Enactment of this bill will result in a cost to the Utah System of Higher Education of approximately $690,400 in FY 2008 and then $54,200 annually therafter. This will require a one-time General Fund appropriation of $690,400 in FY 2008. Dedicated credits are expected to cover the ongoing costs thereafter. These amounts are based on the assumption of requiring the criminal background check on approximately half of current employees in FY 2008, then on half of the new employees that are hired each year due to turnover at the institutions. The bill requires the institutions to pay for the background checks, but also allows the cost to be passed on to the applicant. The fiscal note assumes that the cost for current employees will be borne by the institutions, but the cost for new employees will be passed on to the applicants. The Department of Public Safety would receive the payments from institutions as dedicated credits and incur the expense of processing the background check.

Individual, Business and/or Local Impact:
Applicants for some positions at Utah System of Higher Education institutions may be required to pay $52.00 to cover the costs of a criminal background check as a condition of employment.