A bill recently introduced in the House of Representatives would allow employers to use authorized third-party screeners to conduct FBI background checks on private security officers when such checks are not available from the employer’s state. The bill–H.R. 4112, the Private Security Officer Screening Improvement Act–would amend the Private Security Officer Employment Authorization Act. Jeff Flint, NASCO’s executive director, points out the gap in the existing law that requires state agencies to conduct background checks on behalf of employers, but that many states still do not provide. “The [amended law] will dramatically increase availability of FBI criminal background checks for all private security officers,” said Flint. “And that will make the public safer.”
