Revising the statute authorizing the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to run background checks.

HB 5445 revises West Virginia's law requiring criminal history checks for individuals applying to be Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN) Radio Programmers or seeking approval to work in SIRN network facilities. The bill mandates that applicants submit fingerprints to the West Virginia State Police for state and national criminal history checks through the FBI. It specifies that these check results and related records are not public, may only be shared with the applicant, their written consent, or a court order, and that applicants must pay the associated costs. This update clarifies and formalizes the background check process for SIRN personnel to protect network security.