Senate Expands Background Checks

Air Date:01/24/2012

The State Senate voted to authorize criminal background checks for certain state employees. Senator Elizabeth Kraus of Rapid City says the bill affects potential hires for various positions in the Human Services Center, Department of Social Services, Department of Health, and South Dakota Developmental Center.

“You might ask do we currently have the ability to do background checks for these various state employees,” Kraus says. “We do, but presently they can only obtain the criminal records within the state of SD. The gold standard for background checks would be with the FBI, and state statute must allow such checks.”

Senate Bill six passed without any opposition and now moves to a House committee.

By Jenifer Jones

Click here to download audio.

 

Get the Flash Player to see this video.