ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
adoption; fingerprint
screening; expedited processing
Permits
electronic transmission of prospective adoptive parent fingerprints to the
Department of Public Safety (DPS) when technology is available. Requires DPS to
electronically transmit applicant fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI). Appropriates $2 million in fiscal year 2001-2002
from the Arizona Corrections Industries (ACI) fund to DPS to expand electronic
fingerprint transmission to the FBI for applicants.
Over
the past three years federal and state laws were enacted to encourage
permanency for children in the foster care system through expedited
processes. Laws 1999, Chapter 347
reduced the average length of time for adoption from 20 months to 9
months. The major remaining barrier to
the process is the turnaround time for fingerprint processing for criminal
background checks. It currently takes around 30 days for local DPS clearance
and another 4 to 6 weeks for federal FBI clearance. With electronic
transmission of fingerprints, DPS projects local clearance in 22 days and FBI
clearance in another 3 days.
The
electronic fingerprints now obtained by the Department of Economic Security
(DES) for identification purposes are not appropriate for transmission to DPS
and the FBI, since only one digit is captured.
The DPS and FBI require all 10 digits for criminal background checks. A recently developed portable unit to scan
full fingerprints has an estimated cost of $25,000 to $35,000 each.
DPS
electronically transmits fingerprints to the FBI for criminal arrests
only. A new Gateway Service Provider
(GPS III) must be completed before the interface software can be developed for
applicant fingerprints to be electronically transmitted. According to DPS, GPS III installation is
scheduled for completion in December 2001, with an initial cost of
approximately $2.8 million for one-time programming and purchasing new
equipment. The second year cost
projected by DPS, primarily for 14 additional employees, is approximately
$946,000.
The
bill appropriates $2 million from the ACI fund in fiscal year 2001-2002 to DPS
to expand transmission to the FBI of applicant fingerprints. The appropriation is exempt from lapsing
until June 30, 2003.
1. Appropriates $2 million in fiscal year 2001-2002 from the ACI fund to DPS to expand electronic transmission of fingerprints to the FBI for applicants in addition to persons arrested for criminal offenses.
2. Allows DES, an adoption agency, an officer of the court or a designee of one of these to transmit to DPS an electronic fingerprint from a prospective adoptive parent if the technology is available.
3. Requires DPS to transmit electronic fingerprints to the FBI.
4. Contains technical and conforming changes.
5. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing until June 30, 2003.
6. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Family Service Committee
Appropriates $2 million in FY 2001-2002 from the ACI fund to DPS for expansion of electronic fingerprint transmission to the FBI and $900,000 in FY 2002-2003 from the ACI fund to DPS for personnel and other costs associated with electronic transmission.
Amendments Adopted by the Appropriations Committee
Appropriates $2 million in FY 2001-2002 from the ACI fund to DPS to expand electronic transmission of applicant fingerprints to the FBI, exempt from lapsing until June 30, 2003.
Senate Action
FS 2/28/91 DPA 5-0-1-0
APPROP 3/6/01 DPA 10-1-1-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 7, 2001