Download Zipped Amended WP 9 SB0075.ZIP
[Introduced][Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

S.B. 75

This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Feb 19, 2003 at 4:25 PM by bhilbert. --> This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Feb 19, 2003 at 4:40 PM by bhilbert. -->              1     

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS BY

             2     
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OPERATING

             3     
WATER SYSTEMS

             4     
2003 GENERAL SESSION

             5     
STATE OF UTAH

             6     
Sponsor: Carlene M. Walker

             7      This act enacts provisions authorizing political subdivisions of the state that operate a
             8      public water system to require prospective and current employees and contractors and
             9      those seeking access to public water system facilities to submit to a criminal background
             10      check. The act provides for notice to a person whose employment is denied or terminated
             11      and for review of the denial or termination. The act also makes conforming and technical
             12      changes and provides an effective date.
             13      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             14      AMENDS:
             15          53-10-104, as last amended by Chapter 316, Laws of Utah 2000
             16          63-2-302 (Effective 07/01/03), as last amended by Chapters 63 and 191, Laws of Utah
             17      2002
             18          63-2-302 (Superseded 07/01/03), as last amended by Chapter 63, Laws of Utah 2002
             19      ENACTS:
             20          11-39-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             21          11-39-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             22          11-39-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             23          11-39-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             24      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             25          Section 1. Section 11-39-101 is enacted to read:
             26     
CHAPTER 39. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS BY POLITICAL

             27     
SUBDIVISIONS OPERATING WATER SYSTEMS




Text Box

- 2 -
House Floor Amendments 2-19-2003 bh/rhr
             28
         11-39-101. Definitions.
             29          As used in this chapter:
             30          (1) "Applicant" means a person who seeks employment with a public water utility,
             31      either as an employee or as an independent contractor h , AND WHO, AFTER EMPLOYMENT, WOULD,
             31a      IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE PUBLIC WATER UTILITY, BE IN A POSITION TO AFFECT THE SAFETY OR
             31b      SECURITY OF THE PUBLIC OWNED TREATMENT WORKS OR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM OR TO
             31c      AFFECT THE SAFETY OR WELL BEING OF PATRONS OF THE PUBLIC WATER UTILITY h .
             32          (2) "Division" means the Criminal Investigation and Technical Services Division of the
             33      Department of Public Safety, established in Section 53-10-103 .
             34          (3) "Independent contractor":
             35          (a) means an engineer, contractor, consultant, or supplier who designs, constructs,
             36      operates, maintains, repairs, replaces, or provides water treatment or conveyance facilities or
             37      equipment, or related control or security facilities or equipment, to the public water utility; and
             38          (b) includes the employees and agents of the engineer, contractor, consultant, or
             39      supplier.
             40          (4) "Person seeking access" means a person who seeks access to a public water utility's
             41      public water system or public owned treatment works h AND WHO, AFTER OBTAINING ACCESS,
             41a      WOULD, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE PUBLIC WATER UTILITY, BE IN A POSITION TO AFFECT THE
             41b      SAFETY OR SECURITY OF THE PUBLIC OWNED TREATMENT WORKS OR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
             41c      OR TO AFFECT THE SAFETY OR WELL BEING OF PATRONS OF THE PUBLIC WATER UTILITY h .
             42          (5) "Public owned treatment works" has the same meaning as defined in Section
             43      19-5-102 .
             44          (6) "Public water system" has the same meaning as defined in Section 19-4-102 .
             45          (7) "Public water utility" means a county, city, town, independent special district under
             46      Title 17A, Chapter 2, Independent Special Districts, local district under Title 17B, Chapter 2,
             47      Local Districts, or other political subdivision of the state that operates public owned treatment
             48      works or a public water system.
             49          Section 2. Section 11-39-102 is enacted to read:
             50          11-39-102. Criminal background check authorized -- Written notice required.
             51          (1) A public water utility may:
             52          (a) require an applicant to submit to a criminal background check as a condition of
             53      employment;


             54          (b) periodically require existing employees of the public water utility to submit to a
             55      criminal background check h IF, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE PUBLIC WATER UTILITY, THE h


            
Text Box

- 2a -
House Floor Amendments 2-19-2003 bh/rhr
55a
     h EMPLOYEE IS IN A POSITION TO AFFECT THE SAFETY OR SECURITY OF THE PUBLIC
             55b      OWNED TREATMENT WORKS OR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM OR TO AFFECT THE SAFETY OR WELL

             55c      BEING OF PATRONS OF THE PUBLIC WATER UTILITY h ; and
             56          (c) require a person seeking access to submit to a criminal background check as a
             57      condition of acquiring access.
             58          (2) (a) Each applicant, person seeking access, and existing employee h DESCRIBED IN
             58a      SUBSECTION (1)(b) h shall, if required



Text Box

- 3 -
House Floor Amendments 2-19-2003 bh/rhr
             59
     by the public water utility:
             60          (i) submit a fingerprint card in a form acceptable to the division; and
             61          (ii) consent to a fingerprint background check by:
             62          (A) the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification; and
             63          (B) the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
             64          (b) If requested by a public water utility, the division shall request the Department of
             65      Public Safety to complete a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal background check for
             66      each applicant, person seeking access, or existing employee through a national criminal history
             67      system.
             68          (c) (i) A public water utility may make an applicant's employment with the public
             69      water utility or the access of a person seeking access conditional pending completion of a
             70      criminal background check under this section.
             71          (ii) If a criminal background check discloses that an applicant or a person seeking
             72      access failed to disclose accurately a criminal history, the public water utility may deny or, if
             73      conditionally given, immediately terminate the applicant's employment or the person's access.
             74          (iii) If an applicant or person seeking access accurately disclosed the relevant criminal
             75      history and the criminal background check discloses that the applicant or person seeking access
             76      has been convicted of a crime that indicates a potential risk for the safety of the public water
             77      utility's public water system or public owned treatment works or for the safety or well being of
             78      patrons of the public water utility, the public water utility may deny or, if conditionally given,
             79      immediately terminate the applicant's employment or the person's access.
             80          (3) Each public water utility that requests a criminal background check under
             81      Subsection (1) shall h PREPARE CRITERIA FOR WHICH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WILL PRECLUDE
             81a      EMPLOYMENT AND SHALL h provide written notice to the person who is the subject of the criminal
             82      background check that the background check has been requested.
             83          Section 3. Section 11-39-103 is enacted to read:
             84          11-39-103. Duties of the Criminal Investigation and Technical Services Division --
             85      Costs of separate file and background check.
             86          (1) If a public water utility requests the division to conduct a criminal background
             87      check, the division shall:
             88          (a) release to the public water utility the full record of criminal convictions for the
             89      person who is the subject of the background check;




Text Box

- 4 -
             90
         (b) if requested by the public water utility, seek additional information from regional or
             91      national criminal data files in conducting the criminal background check;
             92          (c) maintain a separate file of fingerprints submitted under Section 11-39-102 ; and
             93          (d) notify the requesting public water utility when a new entry is made against a person
             94      whose fingerprints are held in the file.
             95          (2) (a) Each public water utility requesting a criminal background check shall pay the
             96      cost of maintaining the separate file under Subsection (1) from fees charged to those whose
             97      fingerprints are submitted to the division.
             98          (b) Each public water utility requesting the division to conduct a criminal background
             99      check shall pay the cost of the background check, and the monies collected shall be credited to
             100      the division to offset its expenses.
             101          Section 4. Section 11-39-104 is enacted to read:
             102          11-39-104. Written notice to person whose employment is denied or terminated --
             103      Right to respond and seek review.
             104          If a public water utility denies or terminates the employment of a person because of
             105      information obtained through a criminal background check under this chapter, the public water
             106      utility shall:
             107          (1) notify the person in writing of the reasons for the denial or termination; and
             108          (2) give the person an opportunity to respond to the reasons and to seek review of the
             109      denial or termination through administrative procedures established by the public water utility.
             110          Section 5. Section 53-10-104 is amended to read:
             111           53-10-104. Division duties.
             112          The division shall:
             113          (1) provide and coordinate the delivery of support services to law enforcement
             114      agencies;
             115          (2) maintain and provide access to criminal records for use by law enforcement
             116      agencies;
             117          (3) publish law enforcement and statistical data;
             118          (4) maintain dispatch and communications services for public safety communications
             119      centers and provide emergency medical, fire suppression, highway maintenance, public works,
             120      and law enforcement communications for municipal, county, state, and federal agencies;



Text Box

- 5 -
             121
         (5) analyze evidence from crime scenes and crime-related incidents for criminal
             122      prosecution;
             123          (6) provide criminalistic laboratory services to federal, state, and local law enforcement
             124      agencies, prosecuting attorneys' and agencies, and public defenders, with the exception of those
             125      services provided by the state medical examiner in accordance with Title 26, Chapter 4, Utah
             126      Medical Examiner Act;
             127          (7) establish satellite laboratories as necessary to provide criminalistic services;
             128          (8) safeguard the public through licensing and regulation of activities that impact
             129      public safety, including concealed weapons, emergency vehicles, and private investigators;
             130          (9) provide investigative assistance to law enforcement and other government agencies;
             131          (10) collect and provide intelligence information to criminal justice agencies;
             132          (11) investigate crimes that jeopardize the safety of the citizens, as well as the interests,
             133      of the state;
             134          (12) regulate and investigate laws pertaining to the sale and distribution of liquor;
             135          (13) make rules to implement this chapter; [and]
             136          (14) perform the functions specified in this chapter[.]; and
             137          (15) comply with the requirements of Section 11-39-103 .
             138          Section 6. Section 63-2-302 (Effective 07/01/03) is amended to read:
             139           63-2-302 (Effective 07/01/03). Private records.
             140          (1) The following records are private:
             141          (a) records concerning an individual's eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits,
             142      social services, welfare benefits, or the determination of benefit levels;
             143          (b) records containing data on individuals describing medical history, diagnosis,
             144      condition, treatment, evaluation, or similar medical data;
             145          (c) records of publicly funded libraries that when examined alone or with other records
             146      identify a patron;
             147          (d) records received or generated for a Senate or House Ethics Committee concerning
             148      any alleged violation of the rules on legislative ethics, prior to the meeting, and after the
             149      meeting, if the ethics committee meeting was closed to the public;
             150          (e) records received or generated for a Senate confirmation committee concerning
             151      character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual:



Text Box

- 6 -
             152
         (i) if prior to the meeting, the chair of the committee determines release of the records:
             153          (A) reasonably could be expected to interfere with the investigation undertaken by the
             154      committee; or
             155          (B) would create a danger of depriving a person of a right to a fair proceeding or
             156      impartial hearing;
             157          (ii) after the meeting, if the meeting was closed to the public;
             158          (f) employment records concerning a current or former employee of, or applicant for
             159      employment with, a governmental entity that would disclose that individual's home address,
             160      home telephone number, Social Security number, insurance coverage, marital status, or payroll
             161      deductions;
             162          (g) records or parts of records under Section 63-2-302.5 that a current or former
             163      employee identifies as private according to the requirements of that section;
             164          (h) that part of a record indicating a person's Social Security number if provided under
             165      Section 31A-23-202 , 31A-26-202 , 58-1-301 , 61-1-4 , or 61-2-6 ;
             166          (i) that part of a voter registration record identifying a voter's driver license or
             167      identification card number, Social Security number, or last four digits of the Social Security
             168      number; [and]
             169          (j) a record that:
             170          (i) contains information about an individual;
             171          (ii) is voluntarily provided by the individual; and
             172          (iii) goes into an electronic database that:
             173          (A) is designated by and administered under the authority of the Chief Information
             174      Officer; and
             175          (B) acts as a repository of information about the individual that can be electronically
             176      retrieved and used to facilitate the individual's online interaction with a state agency[.]; and
             177          (k) information obtained through a criminal background check under Title 11, Chapter
             178      39, Criminal Background Checks by Political Subdivisions Operating Water Systems.
             179          (2) The following records are private if properly classified by a governmental entity:
             180          (a) records concerning a current or former employee of, or applicant for employment
             181      with a governmental entity, including performance evaluations and personal status information
             182      such as race, religion, or disabilities, but not including records that are public under Subsection



Text Box

- 7 -
             183
     63-2-301 (1)(b) or 63-2-301 (2)(o), or private under Subsection [ 63-2-302 ](1)(b);
             184          (b) records describing an individual's finances, except that the following are public:
             185          (i) records described in Subsection 63-2-301 (1);
             186          (ii) information provided to the governmental entity for the purpose of complying with
             187      a financial assurance requirement; or
             188          (iii) records that must be disclosed in accordance with another statute;
             189          (c) records of independent state agencies if the disclosure of those records would
             190      conflict with the fiduciary obligations of the agency;
             191          (d) other records containing data on individuals the disclosure of which constitutes a
             192      clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; and
             193          (e) records provided by the United States or by a government entity outside the state
             194      that are given with the requirement that the records be managed as private records, if the
             195      providing entity states in writing that the record would not be subject to public disclosure if
             196      retained by it.
             197          (3) (a) As used in this Subsection (3), "medical records" means medical reports,
             198      records, statements, history, diagnosis, condition, treatment, and evaluation.
             199          (b) Medical records in the possession of the University of Utah Hospital, its clinics,
             200      doctors, or affiliated entities are not private records or controlled records under Section
             201      63-2-303 when the records are sought:
             202          (i) in connection with any legal or administrative proceeding in which the patient's
             203      physical, mental, or emotional condition is an element of any claim or defense; or
             204          (ii) after a patient's death, in any legal or administrative proceeding in which any party
             205      relies upon the condition as an element of the claim or defense.
             206          (c) Medical records are subject to production in a legal or administrative proceeding
             207      according to state or federal statutes or rules of procedure and evidence as if the medical
             208      records were in the possession of a nongovernmental medical care provider.
             209          Section 7. Section 63-2-302 (Superseded 07/01/03) is amended to read:
             210           63-2-302 (Superseded 07/01/03). Private records.
             211          (1) The following records are private:
             212          (a) records concerning an individual's eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits,
             213      social services, welfare benefits, or the determination of benefit levels;



Text Box

- 8 -
             214
         (b) records containing data on individuals describing medical history, diagnosis,
             215      condition, treatment, evaluation, or similar medical data;
             216          (c) records of publicly funded libraries that when examined alone or with other records
             217      identify a patron;
             218          (d) records received or generated for a Senate or House Ethics Committee concerning
             219      any alleged violation of the rules on legislative ethics, prior to the meeting, and after the
             220      meeting, if the ethics committee meeting was closed to the public;
             221          (e) records received or generated for a Senate confirmation committee concerning
             222      character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual:
             223          (i) if prior to the meeting, the chair of the committee determines release of the records:
             224          (A) reasonably could be expected to interfere with the investigation undertaken by the
             225      committee; or
             226          (B) would create a danger of depriving a person of a right to a fair proceeding or
             227      impartial hearing; and
             228          (ii) after the meeting, if the meeting was closed to the public;
             229          (f) records concerning a current or former employee of, or applicant for employment
             230      with, a governmental entity that would disclose that individual's home address, home telephone
             231      number, Social Security number, insurance coverage, marital status, or payroll deductions;
             232          (g) that part of a record indicating a person's Social Security number if provided under
             233      Section 31A-23-202 , 31A-26-202 , 58-1-301 , 61-1-4 , or 61-2-6 ;
             234          (h) that part of a voter registration record identifying a voter's driver license or
             235      identification card number, Social Security number, or last four digits of the Social Security
             236      number; [and]
             237          (i) a record that:
             238          (i) contains information about an individual;
             239          (ii) is voluntarily provided by the individual; and
             240          (iii) goes into an electronic database that:
             241          (A) is designated by and administered under the authority of the Chief Information
             242      Officer; and
             243          (B) acts as a repository of information about the individual that can be electronically
             244      retrieved and used to facilitate the individual's online interaction with a state agency[.]; and



Text Box

- 9 -
             245
         (j) information obtained through a criminal background check under Title 11, Chapter
             246      39, Criminal Background Checks by Political Subdivisions Operating Water Systems.
             247          (2) The following records are private if properly classified by a governmental entity:
             248          (a) records concerning a current or former employee of, or applicant for employment
             249      with a governmental entity, including performance evaluations and personal status information
             250      such as race, religion, or disabilities, but not including records that are public under Subsection
             251      63-2-301 (1)(b) or 63-2-301 (2)(o), or private under Subsection [ 63-2-302 ](1)(b);
             252          (b) records describing an individual's finances, except that the following are public:
             253          (i) records described in Subsection 63-2-301 (1);
             254          (ii) information provided to the governmental entity for the purpose of complying with
             255      a financial assurance requirement; or
             256          (iii) records that must be disclosed in accordance with another statute;
             257          (c) records of independent state agencies if the disclosure of those records would
             258      conflict with the fiduciary obligations of the agency;
             259          (d) other records containing data on individuals the disclosure of which constitutes a
             260      clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; and
             261          (e) records provided by the United States or by a government entity outside the state
             262      that are given with the requirement that the records be managed as private records, if the
             263      providing entity states in writing that the record would not be subject to public disclosure if
             264      retained by it.
             265          (3) (a) As used in this Subsection (3), "medical records" means medical reports,
             266      records, statements, history, diagnosis, condition, treatment, and evaluation.
             267          (b) Medical records in the possession of the University of Utah Hospital, its clinics,
             268      doctors, or affiliated entities are not private records or controlled records under Section
             269      63-2-303 when the records are sought:
             270          (i) in connection with any legal or administrative proceeding in which the patient's
             271      physical, mental, or emotional condition is an element of any claim or defense; or
             272          (ii) after a patient's death, in any legal or administrative proceeding in which any party
             273      relies upon the condition as an element of the claim or defense.
             274          (c) Medical records are subject to production in a legal or administrative proceeding
             275      according to state or federal statutes or rules of procedure and evidence as if the medical



Text Box

- 10 -
             276
     records were in the possession of a nongovernmental medical care provider.
             277          Section 8. Effective date.
             278          This act takes effect May 5, 2003, except that the amendments to Section 63-2-302
             279      (Effective 07/01/03) take effect July 1, 2003.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-27-03 5:32 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]