Pennsylvania Act 2014-43 — JUDICIAL CODE (42 PA.C.S.) - AUTHORIZING THE PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS TO OBTAIN CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS

Act text

Session of 2014

No. 2014-43

SB 894

AN ACT

Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in judicial boards and commissions, authorizing the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners to obtain criminal history record checks.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 21 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:

SUBCHAPTER G

PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS

Sec.

2161. Criminal history record checks.

§ 2161. Criminal history record checks.

(a) Authorization.--The Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners may require that persons applying for admission to the bar and the practice of law in this Commonwealth be subject to:

(1) A Federal criminal history record check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(2) A State criminal history record check through the Pennsylvania State Police.

(b) Fingerprints required.--All applicants as required under subsection (a) shall submit fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record checks, and the Pennsylvania State Police or its authorized agent shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity of the applicant and obtaining a current record of any criminal arrests and convictions.

(c) Use of information.--Any information relating to an applicant and obtained under this section by the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners may be interpreted and used by the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners only to determine the applicant's character, fitness and suitability for admission to the bar and the practice of law in this Commonwealth.

(d) Inapplicability.--The provisions of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121(b)(2) (relating to general regulations) shall not apply if a request for a criminal history record check is submitted pursuant to this section.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 6th day of May, A.D. 2014.

TOM CORBETT