Committee advances bill waiving criminal-history check fees despite members’ fiscal concerns

The Finance, Revenue and Bonding committee voted to send Senate Bill 343, an act concerning fees charged for criminal-history records checks, to the legislative floor after a roll-call vote and brief debate about fiscal impact.

Representative Piscopo asked why the bill was before the committee and whether the measure simply waived fees. Representative Paletta pressed for a fiscal estimate; Chair Senator Kissel cited information from Mr. Murphy that the fee waiver would cost "approximately $150,000 per year." Representative Paletta said he would vote no to "flag" the bill and expressed concern about the precedent set by waiving fees.

The committee proceeded to a roll-call vote on the measure. Staff recorded members' individual responses (yes and no votes were entered during the clerk’s call). The committee clerk confirmed the vote record and indicated the item had been recorded for transmission to the floor.

The meeting recessed with votes left open until 11 a.m. The committee did not reach an extended substantive debate on SB343 beyond the fiscal question and concerns raised by members during the session.