Subject:
Title
Pinellas County Human Resources fingerprinting ordinance.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of a County ordinance that will allow Human Resources staff to fingerprint and receive Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigations criminal background records to screen County employees and applicants for positions that are determined by the Chief Human Resources Officer to be critical to security or public safety.
• Applicable positions may include positions that fall under a state grant that requires fingerprinting for eligibility, positions that require work to be performed at a public school, or positions that require access to a secured State system.
• There is no new fiscal impact associated with the ordinance.
• The ordinance is exempt from the Business Impact Estimate because it is required for compliance with federal or state law or regulation.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Smart Service Delivery
4.3 Improve efficiency of service delivery through technology.
Summary:
Summary
The Ordinance provides Pinellas County Human Resources with the authority to receive FDLE and FBI criminal background records to screen County employees and applicants for positions that are determined by the Chief Human Resources Officer to be critical to security or public safety. Fingerprinting and background check services are currently performed by a third-party vendor or the Sheriff’s office.
Body
Background Information:
In April 2023, Pinellas County moved to conducting level 1 background checks through a vendor, EDGE Information Management. This change came after FDLE ended our ability to do fingerprinting in-house under a program that is designated for those working specifically with vulnerable populations (VECHs). However, some County departments still have positions that need a level 2 fingerprint background check to perform the essential tasks of their jobs. In the current process, the County must have these checks done through a State Agency or by the Sheriff’s Office. Implementing a County Ordinance will allow us to fingerprint positions when necessary and receive state and national criminal background records directly from FDLE.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no new fiscal impact associated with the ordinance. Human Resources has supplies from when it previously performed fingerprinting for background checks.
Staff Member Responsible:
Wade Childress, Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Fingerprinting Ordinance