Bill Mandating Government Employee Background Checks Held by Committee

Sen. Dwayne DeGraff Tuesday said the hiring of a convicted thief in a key government position two years ago ignited his concern about employee background checks.

He added he was also concerned that his bill to codify background checks for certain government hires took two years to reach the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice, and Public Safety. He told committee members he wanted the bill to progress immediately to the Rules and Judiciary Committee. It did not happen. After lengthy discussion and testimony, it was held in committee.

Committee Chair Kenneth Gittens, however, promised that it would not “linger” long in the committee and would probably be moved forward next month.

After hearing testimony from Mark Bough, chief technology officer of the Bureau of Information Technology; Ray Martinez, commissioner of the Police Department; Daryl Jaschen, director of the Territorial Emergency Management Agency; Andrew Smith, chief executive officer of the Water and Power Authority, Attorney General Ariel Smith; and Kurell Sheridan, executive director of the Legislature; Gittens said the bill still needed work.