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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Criminal record checks sought for Wicomico hires

SALISBURY -- Dual bills introduced in the Maryland House and Senate would allow Wicomico County to perform state and federal criminal background checks on all prospective employees and volunteers.
The bills, which were introduced by Sen. Richard Colburn, R-37-Dorchester, and the Wicomico County delegation would authorize a designated county official to fingerprint prospective employees and then submit their information to the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository for a records check.
"It's a safeguard measure for employers and directors within the county to look in the criminal backgrounds of who may be working for us," said Sheree Sample-Hughes, a Wicomico County councilwoman, who said she is in favor of the legislation. "This will keep us in good standing as being a viable employer."
The records check could be performed for prospective teachers, school aides, volunteers at a summer day camp for children and anyone else seeking to work or volunteer for any county department, including the Board of Education.
Similar laws exist in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's and Washington counties.
"When I met with Caroline County officials in October, (Ernest) Crofoot, the attorney for Caroline County, brought this to my attention and the Caroline County Commissioners requested this legislation be introduced," Colburn said about the legislation's origins.
"Caroline County has already adopted the internal policies to do this; however, the Federal Bureau of Investigation won't perform a national criminal history background check unless the county has the specific state law authorizing them to do it."
Colburn said he feels the legislation is warranted because it's better for counties to have the ability to perform background checks, but not need them, than to need to perform one and not have the ability to do so.
"To me it's a question of why wouldn't you want to be able to do it," Colburn said.
The Senate version of the bill includes a provision to extend beyond Wicomico into Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot counties.
If approved, the legislation would take effect on July 1

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