Amendment #707 to H4000

Commission to study implementation of national criminal background checks

Representatives O'Connell of Taunton, Cole of Peabody, Diehl of Whitman, Dooley of Norfolk, Fattman of Sutton, Kuros of Uxbridge and Lombardo of Billerica move to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

“SECTION XXXX: Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there is hereby established a commission to research, assess, and develop procedures to implement a system permitting criminal offender record information requestors to conduct fingerprint-based checks of the national criminal history databases.  The commission shall establish a process for making such requests, which shall be optional and made at the determination of the requestor. The commission shall examine and determine the appropriate roles of the Massachusetts department of criminal justice information and the state police.

The commission shall consist of: the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the chair of the sex offender registry board, or a designee; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; a representative of the state police; and 3 persons to be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be representatives of distinct victims’ rights advocacy groups, and 1 whom shall be a representative of an advocacy group which serves developmentally disabled individuals.

The commission shall commence within 2 weeks of the effective date of this act.  The commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to implement those recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house on or before Dec 30, 2014.”