Bill > S196

This bill enhances background checks conducted by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) by requiring fingerprint-based checks of state and national criminal history databases for individuals applying for or holding certain alcohol licenses, specifically those under sections 12 and 15, and for license managers. This process, managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS), will involve submitting fingerprints to the state police for a state check and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a national check, with results disseminated to the ABCC. The bill also allows for similar fingerprint-based checks for other types of alcohol licenses, though it exempts stockholders of publicly traded corporations who own less than ten percent of the voting stock. The ABCC will collect fees from individuals undergoing these checks, capped at $55 per person, to cover the costs of the background check system, with these funds deposited into a dedicated trust fund. The DCJIS will report annually on the costs and expenditures of this system to relevant legislative committees.