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HB 2342 Kansas House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Authorizing the attorney general and the state gaming agency to receive certain additional criminal history records, updating criminal history record language related to the state bank commissioner, requiring the secretary of labor to conduct criminal history record checks on employees who have access to federal tax information and authorizing the secretary of commerce to conduct such checks on final applicants for and employees in certain sensitive positions.

HB 2342 authorizes the Kansas Secretary of Commerce to conduct national criminal background checks on final applicants and current employees in specific high-risk positions within the Department of Commerce. It defines "sensitive positions" as roles like division directors, IT managers, chief counsel, finance managers handling funds, or any position involving significant financial management, confidential data, or fraud risk. The bill requires that individuals in these roles have no misdemeanor convictions for theft, fraud, or financial crimes, or any felony convictions. This policy change updates existing background check procedures under K.S.A. 22-4714 to apply specifically to Commerce employees and applicants.
Issues: ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires background checks for IT managers and data handlers in sensitive roles, enhancing cybersecurity measures for confidential data access.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Signed Apr 10, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by Senate Committee → Enrolled · 6 edits · Apr 10, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was significantly expanded from a single department-specific measure to a comprehensive criminal history record check statute. It now applies to multiple state agencies, including the Attorney General, State Gaming Agency, and State Bank Commissioner, in addition to the Department of Commerce. The Commerce Department's specific requirements for background checks on sensitive positions were retained but restructured within the broader legislative framework.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from exclusively applying to the Department of Commerce to covering multiple state agencies, including the Attorney General, State Gaming Agency, and State Bank Commissioner, establishing a unified system for criminal history checks across various government functions.
SCOPE

Added requirements for the Attorney General and State Gaming Agency to receive criminal history records for their respective employees and licensees.

Added requirements for the State Bank Commissioner to conduct criminal history checks on employees.

Added requirements for the Secretary of Labor to conduct checks on employees with access to federal tax information.

Removed the standalone, narrow focus on the Department of Commerce as the sole beneficiary of the bill.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the definition of 'sensitive positions' for the Department of Commerce to explicitly list specific roles like IT manager and chief counsel alongside general criteria.

REQUIREMENT

Added new statutory language defining the Kansas Money Transmission Act and related terms for the State Bank Commissioner.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
13
Committee
8
Apr 10, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on Tuesday, April 8, 2025
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 124, Nay 0, Absent 1
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report now available
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 40, Nay 0
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson appointed as conferees
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Sean Tarwater, Rep. Adam Turk and Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 39, Nay 1
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
Received and Introduced
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Final Action - Passed; Yea 123, Nay 0, Absent 2
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed by House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.