Section 109.5721 | Retained applicant fingerprint database.
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Employment" includes volunteer service.
(2) "Licensure" means the authorization, evidenced by a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other authority that is issued or conferred by a public office, to engage in a profession, occupation, or occupational activity, to be a foster caregiver, or to have control of and operate certain specific equipment, machinery, or premises over which a public office has jurisdiction.
(3) "Participating public office" means a public office that requires a fingerprint background check as a condition of employment with, licensure by, or approval for adoption by the public office and that elects to receive notice under division (C) of this section in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general.
(4) "Public office" has the same meaning as in section 117.01 of the Revised Code.
(5) "Participating private party" means any person or private entity that is allowed to request a criminal records check pursuant to divisions (A)(2) or (3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code.
(B) Within six months after August 15, 2007, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall establish and maintain a database of fingerprints of individuals on whom the bureau has conducted criminal records checks for the purpose of determining eligibility for employment with, licensure by, or approval for adoption by a public office or participating private party. The superintendent shall maintain the database separate and apart from other records maintained by the bureau. The database shall be known as the retained applicant fingerprint database.
(C) When the superintendent receives information that an individual whose name is in the retained applicant fingerprint database has been arrested for, convicted of, or pleaded guilty to any offense, the superintendent shall promptly notify any participating public office or participating private party that employs, licensed, or approved the individual of the arrest, conviction, or guilty plea. The public office or participating private party that receives the notification and its employees and officers shall use the information contained in the notification solely to determine the individual's eligibility for continued employment with the public office or participating private party, to retain licensure issued by the public office, or to be approved for adoption by the public office. The public office or participating private party and its employees and officers shall not disclose that information to any person for any other purpose.
(D) If an individual has submitted fingerprint impressions for employment with, licensure by, or approval for adoption by a participating public office or participating private party and seeks employment with, licensure by, or approval for adoption by another participating public office or participating private party, the other public office or participating private party shall reprint the individual. If an individual has been reprinted, the superintendent shall update that individual's information accordingly.
(E) The bureau of criminal identification and investigation and the participating public office or participating private party shall use information contained in the retained applicant fingerprint database and in the notice described in division (C) of this section for the purpose of employment with, licensure by, or approval for adoption by the participating public office or participating private party. This information is otherwise confidential and not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.
(F) The attorney general shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the operation and maintenance of the database. The rules shall provide for, but not be limited to, both of the following:
(1) The expungement or sealing of records of individuals who are deceased or who are no longer employed, granted licensure, or approved for adoption by the public office or participating private party that required submission of the individual's fingerprints;
(2) The terms under which a public office or participating private party may elect to receive notification under division (C) of this section, including payment of any reasonable fee that may be charged for the purpose.
(G) No public office or employee of a public office shall be considered negligent in a civil action solely because the public office did not elect to be a participating public office.
(H)(1) No person shall knowingly use information contained in or received from the retained applicant fingerprint database for purposes not authorized by this section.
(2) No person shall knowingly use information contained in or received from the retained applicant fingerprint database with the intent to harass or intimidate another person.
(3) Whoever violates division (H)(1) or (H)(2) of this section is guilty of unlawful use of retained applicant fingerprint database records. A violation of division (H)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. A violation of division (H)(2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Available Versions of this Section
- September 15, 2014 – House Bill 483 - 130th General Assembly [ View September 15, 2014 Version ]
- September 29, 2017 – Amended by House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly [ View September 29, 2017 Version ]