Edward Peruta
Regular Member
The following information CLEARLY indicates the fact that the $50.00 fee has NEVER been approved.
The State is attempting to project that charging a $50.00 will improve the background issue without revealing that the %50.00 fee has been collected since October 1, 2009 without legislative authorization.
Stand by for more info as it becomes available
Read the highlighted text that follows.
Title of Proposal
AAC Fees Charged for Criminal History Background Checks
Statutory Reference
29-11 and 29-17a
Proposal Summary
This statutory change would create a new and appropriate revenue stream by charging for individuals in the private sector that currently do not pay any state fees for criminal history background checks performed by the agency’s State Police Bureau of Investigation.
29-17a- would set up a separate non lapsing account for fees collected pursuant to 29-11 and 29-17a. All money deposited into the account would be used for enhancements and improvements to the DESPP Special Licensing and Firearms Unit.
Other changes will delete unnecessary and misleading language from the fee structure for criminal history background checks. The section will also provide a reduced fee for copies of fingerprints, but only for those requested at time of initial fingerprinting.
Under existing law all criminal history background checks coming from other agencies are not subject to any state fees. (Only the federal FBI fee is charged) While this is appropriate for purposes of background checks on individuals that the agency in question is considering for employment, the fee is also not in place for all of the individuals who are licensed by the agencies but employed in the private sector, such as school bus drivers. The agency’s State Police Bureau of Identification has been overwhelmed with the huge numbers of individuals for whom criminal history background checks for non criminal justice purposes are now required by statute. There is a backlog of more than 3 months. Charging the private sector for these criminal history background checks will create a revenue stream that will allow for better staffing and equipment for the unit, and it will then be able to better carry out its functions.
CGS 29-11(c) indicates a $36 fee for a name search. The agency cannot do just a name search as we need a date of birth to accompany this name. Currently if a requester pays only the $36 fee they only receive a yes or no response. If they want a complete criminal history background check they have to pay the additional $50 fee, making their request totaling a fee of $86. The statue as it currently reads is misleading, eliminating this $36 fee and making the fee a flat $50 for a criminal history record check regardless of who the requester is would eliminate the confusion on the part of the requester.
CGS 29-11(c) indicates a $15 fee for fingerprinting. However, the statute is silent regarding whether this fee applies on a per person basis or per set of fingerprints basis. This section would provide for an additional $5 fee for any additional copy of the individuals fingerprints requested at the time of the initial fingerprinting. This will alleviate an individual from requesting multiple sets of fingerprints without being charged and the language indicating that the $5 fee will apply to any additional copies requested at the time of initial fingerprinting will prevent an individual from returning at a later date requesting a copy of their fingerprints for the lesser $5 fee
The State is attempting to project that charging a $50.00 will improve the background issue without revealing that the %50.00 fee has been collected since October 1, 2009 without legislative authorization.
Stand by for more info as it becomes available
Read the highlighted text that follows.
Title of Proposal
AAC Fees Charged for Criminal History Background Checks
Statutory Reference
29-11 and 29-17a
Proposal Summary
This statutory change would create a new and appropriate revenue stream by charging for individuals in the private sector that currently do not pay any state fees for criminal history background checks performed by the agency’s State Police Bureau of Investigation.
29-17a- would set up a separate non lapsing account for fees collected pursuant to 29-11 and 29-17a. All money deposited into the account would be used for enhancements and improvements to the DESPP Special Licensing and Firearms Unit.
Other changes will delete unnecessary and misleading language from the fee structure for criminal history background checks. The section will also provide a reduced fee for copies of fingerprints, but only for those requested at time of initial fingerprinting.
Under existing law all criminal history background checks coming from other agencies are not subject to any state fees. (Only the federal FBI fee is charged) While this is appropriate for purposes of background checks on individuals that the agency in question is considering for employment, the fee is also not in place for all of the individuals who are licensed by the agencies but employed in the private sector, such as school bus drivers. The agency’s State Police Bureau of Identification has been overwhelmed with the huge numbers of individuals for whom criminal history background checks for non criminal justice purposes are now required by statute. There is a backlog of more than 3 months. Charging the private sector for these criminal history background checks will create a revenue stream that will allow for better staffing and equipment for the unit, and it will then be able to better carry out its functions.
CGS 29-11(c) indicates a $36 fee for a name search. The agency cannot do just a name search as we need a date of birth to accompany this name. Currently if a requester pays only the $36 fee they only receive a yes or no response. If they want a complete criminal history background check they have to pay the additional $50 fee, making their request totaling a fee of $86. The statue as it currently reads is misleading, eliminating this $36 fee and making the fee a flat $50 for a criminal history record check regardless of who the requester is would eliminate the confusion on the part of the requester.
CGS 29-11(c) indicates a $15 fee for fingerprinting. However, the statute is silent regarding whether this fee applies on a per person basis or per set of fingerprints basis. This section would provide for an additional $5 fee for any additional copy of the individuals fingerprints requested at the time of the initial fingerprinting. This will alleviate an individual from requesting multiple sets of fingerprints without being charged and the language indicating that the $5 fee will apply to any additional copies requested at the time of initial fingerprinting will prevent an individual from returning at a later date requesting a copy of their fingerprints for the lesser $5 fee
