Section 21-P:15-c - [Effective Until 6/30/2025] Employee Candidate Background ChecksI. The commissioner may require a background investigation and a criminal history records check on any candidate for employment or promotion prior to a final offer of employment. The commissioner may request only a state records check or both a federal and state records check, to be conducted through the division of state police. The department may extend a conditional offer of employment to a candidate, with a final offer of employment subject to a successfully completed criminal history records check.II. A candidate for employment in a position which the commissioner determines requires a background investigation and a criminal history records check shall submit to the department a criminal history records release form, as provided by the division of state police, which authorizes the release of the person's criminal records, if any. The candidate shall submit with the release form a complete set of fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency as directed by the commissioner. In the event that the first set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern and a second set of fingerprints is necessary in order to complete the criminal history records check, the conditional offer of employment shall remain in effect. If, after 2 attempts, a set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, the department may, in lieu of the criminal history records check, accept police clearances from every city, town, or county where a candidate has lived during the past 5 years.III. To obtain a state records check only, the department shall submit a state criminal history records release form to the division of state police. To obtain both the federal and the state records check, the department shall submit the criminal history records release form and applicant fingerprint card to the division of state police, which shall conduct a criminal history records check through its records and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon completion of the background investigation, the division of state police shall report any criminal conviction information to the commissioner. The department may submit fingerprint information electronically, in accordance with procedures established by the division of state police. The department shall maintain the confidentiality and security of all criminal history records information received pursuant to this paragraph.IV. In this section, "candidate for employment" shall include candidates for contract positions, volunteers, or interns.Amended by 2018 , 318: 2, eff. 8/24/2018.Added by 2013 , 176: 4, eff. 8/31/2013. 2013, 176 : 4 , eff. Aug. 31, 2013. 2018, 318 : 2 , eff. Aug. 24, 2018.
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.