Bill Overview
Title: States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment Act
Description: This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to make available criminal history record information to a state occupational or professional licensing authority for background checks of individuals seeking a license under an interstate compact. A state licensing authority may not share criminal history record information with the compact's commission, any other state entity or licensing authority, or the public, but may inform the compact's commission of completion of a background check.
Sponsors: Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals seeking licenses under interstate compacts
Estimated Size: 6000000
- The bill affects individuals seeking occupational or professional licenses under interstate compacts.
- This concerns occupations and professions where interstate compacts exist to allow easier license transfers across state lines.
- The bill impacts the process of background checks for these individuals by requiring the FBI to make available criminal history information.
- The bill prohibits sharing criminal history information beyond notifying about the completion of a background check.
- Many professions like nursing, teaching, or engineering may often engage in interstate compacts that could be affected by this bill.
Reasoning
- The policy targets individuals seeking occupational licenses across state lines, primarily in regulated professions such as nursing, teaching, and engineering.
- Given the estimate of a large potential target population, the impact will be more substantial in states where interstate professional licensing is common.
- The policy benefits revolve around streamlined background checks, reducing delay and administrative burden for professionals moving between states.
- The 10 interviewees include a mix of those heavily impacted, moderately impacted, and not impacted to represent variance among the population.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (Chicago, IL)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy makes it easier for me to move and continue working with less hassle.
- I'm worried about how this information is being handled, though knowing only completion is shared helps.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Engineer (Austin, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This would significantly reduce waiting times for license approvals, which often delayed project starts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
School Teacher (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see potential benefits if I want to work in neighboring states.
- The policy could make transitions smoother.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Medical Doctor (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While my field isn't directly affected by license checks, it streamlines related administrative processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Social Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This makes the process of gaining new state licenses less cumbersome.
- Access to data is critical but must be secure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't impact me directly as my field doesn't require such licenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Fitness Trainer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The impact might be indirect, more about potential clients easily moving with their licenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Engineer (Denver, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm unaffected by this as I am nearing retirement and stable in my current position.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Lawyer (Miami, FL)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Navigating interstate licensing has been challenging, hopeful for improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veterinarian (Portland, OR)
Age: 36 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill would simplify the process and potentially lower costs associated with getting moving licenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $30600000, High: $71400000)
Year 3: $52020000 (Low: $31212000, High: $72828000)
Year 5: $53060400 (Low: $31836240, High: $74284560)
Year 10: $56168524 (Low: $33701114, High: $78556384)
Year 100: $566989395 (Low: $340193637, High: $791785153)
Key Considerations
- State variances in processing could lead to different implementation costs.
- It is essential to ensure the secure handling of FBI-provided criminal history information.
- The direct federal cost mainly concerns information system adjustments and processes within the FBI.