SB176 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clay Scofield

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

State departments or agencies, state employees and contractors with access to federal tax information, current and applicants, subject to state and national criminal history records checks, fingerprints required, request to be made to ALEA, fees, reports of results returned to departments or agencies, confidential and excluded from public record public disclosure requirements

Summary

SB176 would require Alabama state agencies with access to federal tax information to obtain FBI criminal history background checks for employees and contractors through ALEA, including fingerprinting and confidentiality protections.

What This Bill Does

Authorizes state departments and agencies to conduct nationwide criminal history background checks on staff and contractors who have access to federal tax information, in line with Public Law 92-544. Requires applicants and current employees or contractors to disclose any criminal convictions or pending charges and to undergo fingerprinting for state and national checks. Requires ALEA to collect fingerprints, perform checks with the FBI, and return results to the relevant department; maintains that these reports are confidential and not public records. Allows ALEA to charge fees for performing the checks, and requires agencies to establish internal policies deciding when criminal history would disqualify someone from access to federal tax information.

Who It Affects

• State departments and agencies that handle federal tax information, which must implement the fingerprinting, background checks, and policy review.
• Applicants, current employees, and contractors who have access to federal tax information, who must disclose history, be fingerprinted, and may lose access based on findings.

Key Provisions

• authorize state departments to process FBI national criminal history checks through ALEA for individuals with access to federal tax information
• require disclosure of criminal history or pending charges by applicants, employees, and contractors, and mandate fingerprinting and submission for checks
• require ALEA to conduct state and national checks and return results to the employing department, with reports kept confidential and not public
• permit ALEA to charge fees for the checks and require agencies to establish policy about access denial or removal based on criminal history
• take effect immediately after passage and governor's approval

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

State Agencies