Committee introduces bill to codify FBI background‑check requirements for health and welfare licenses

Jared Larson, chief of staff at the Department of Health and Welfare, introduced RS 32847 and told the committee the draft codifies the items the FBI has signaled are necessary for the state to use its database. "What you have before you is taking the list of things the Federal Bureau of Investigation has told us our law needs to have in it in order to continue doing background checks," Larson said.

Larson said the statutory changes mostly mirror current department rules and do not repeal existing rule language: "You will not see anything new compared to what's in our rule now," he told the committee. The bill’s statement of purpose lists six items the department has attempted to codify so the agency can continue conducting checks for licenses and facility operators under its oversight.

The Chair called for a voice vote to introduce RS 32847; the motion passed. The committee did not request additional substantive changes at the print hearing and deferred detailed review to a bill hearing. The committee was told future changes to the criminal code could require periodic rule updates to reflect newly listed offenses.