Amends existing law to authorize the submission of fingerprints of certain persons to the Bureau of Criminal Identification.
Summary
House Bill 19 amends Idaho’s criminal history records law to clarify and expand who may submit fingerprints to the Bureau of Criminal Identification for processing and, if necessary, forwarding to the FBI. The bill expressly authorizes state, city, and local governments, certain state-created agencies that require fingerprinting by law or rule, and qualifying private noncriminal justice entities and volunteers serving vulnerable populations to submit fingerprints through the bureau. It also revises terminology and makes technical corrections to the existing statute governing release of criminal history record information.
The bill also preserves and restates the rules for how criminal history records may be released, including written-request requirements, identification standards, limits on dissemination of arrest records without dispositions, and the required warning that an arrest without disposition is not an indication of guilt. It maintains the bureau’s role as the state’s sole source for fingerprint submissions for criminal justice and licensing purposes, and it keeps judicial review and direct-access rules tied to existing Idaho code provisions. The act includes an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 19 amends Section 67-3008 of the Idaho Code, affecting the state’s criminal history record information system and the procedures used by agencies, employers, and qualifying private entities to obtain fingerprint-based background checks. It broadens the statutory authorization for fingerprint submissions, while leaving in place restrictions on dissemination of criminal history information and the existing framework for access, confidentiality, and judicial review. The bill primarily affects the Bureau of Criminal Identification, criminal justice agencies, licensing bodies, and private organizations working with children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the House 70-0 and the Senate 34-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The lack of recorded committee testimony in the provided materials also suggests there was little visible opposition or debate in the available record.
Contention
No significant points of contention are evident in the available materials. The main policy choice in the bill is the expansion and clarification of who may submit fingerprints through the Bureau of Criminal Identification, particularly for private entities serving vulnerable populations, but the unanimous votes suggest lawmakers did not view this as divisive. Any concerns would likely have centered on privacy, record dissemination, or administrative burden, but none are reflected in the vote history or transcripts provided.