Rep. Bremer backs bill to let Auditor of Accounts require background checks for staff and contractors

Representative Bremer presented House Bill 304 to the Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee, saying the measure would give the Auditor of Accounts authority to require criminal background checks and fingerprinting for current and prospective AOA employees and for AOA contractors.

"It grants the auditor of accounts the authority to require criminal background checks and wrap back to the state bureau of identification for current AOA employees, prospective AOA employees, and AOA contractors," the sponsor said, noting that many state agencies already require similar checks because auditors access sensitive information.

Bremer said the bill includes a small fiscal note of about $7,000 to cover continuing costs. A committee member asked whether the bill was brought at the request of the Auditor's office; the sponsor said the Auditor of Accounts requested the language "word for word" and had staff present to answer technical questions.

The committee recessed public comment on HB 304 and continued through the agenda; the transcript does not record a committee vote on HB 304 in the provided excerpt.