Drafter

Clerk 10/21/2024

Title

AN ORDINANCE related to the for-hire transportation industry, authorizing background checks through the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation when considering an application for an enhanced regional for-hire driver license; and amending Ordinance 19700, Section 13, and K.C.C. 6.65.110.

Body

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  Ordinance 19700, Section 13, and K.C.C. 6.65.110 are hereby amended to read as follows:

                     Effective September 1((.)), 2024, an enhanced regional for-hire driver's license is a type of regional for-hire driver's license that, in addition to meeting the requirements in K.C.C. 6.65.090 for a regional for-hire driver's license, requires a driver to consent to and successfully pass a state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background check, with ongoing monitoring if available, ((from an entity that is approved by the director,)) consistent with the criteria in K.C.C. 6.65.090.H., and subject to the following:

                     A.  In accordance with RCW 36.01.300, an applicant for an enhanced regional for-hire driver's license shall submit fingerprints to King County, which shall be submitted to the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with appropriate fees.  An applicant may be directed by King County to a vendor authorized by the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to collect the applicant's fingerprints in a digital format and transmit the fingerprints electronically on behalf of King County to the Washington State Patrol;

                     B.  Upon receipt of the fingerprints and the appropriate fees, the Washington State Patrol will compare the applicant's fingerprints against its criminal database and submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a comparison with nationwide records.  The results of the Washington State Patrol's and Federal Bureau of Investigation's criminal background checks will be returned to King County;

                     C.  King County shall render a fitness determination for an enhanced regional for-hire driver's license based upon the results of the criminal background check;

                     D.  In rendering a fitness determination, King County shall decide whether the applicant successfully passes a criminal background check according to the criteria in K.C.C. 6.65.090.H.; and

                     E.  An applicant may request and receive a copy of the applicant's criminal history record information from King County.  Should the applicant seek to amend or correct the applicant's record, the applicant must contact the Washington State Patrol for a Washington state record or contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation for records from other jurisdictions maintained in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's file.  King County shall not be responsible for correcting errors or otherwise amending criminal history record data

it obtains from the Washington State Patrol or the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of making license fitness decisions.