H.R. 8352: Criminal History Access Act

This bill, titled the Criminal History Access Act, seeks to enhance access to criminal history records for certain official entities. Here’s a breakdown of its key components:

Purpose of the Bill

The primary aim of the Criminal History Access Act is to authorize specific peace officer standards and training agencies to access criminal history records. This access is intended to support the hiring, training, and retention of law enforcement personnel.

Changes to Criminal Record Access

The bill proposes amendments to an existing section of the United States Code that governs the exchange of criminal records. The following changes are specified:

• Federal Government and State Access: The bill expands the definition of who can access these criminal records to include authorized officials from the Federal Government, state governments, Indian tribes, and cities, as well as various penal institutions.
• Definition of Agencies: It defines "peace officer standards and training agency" as a state agency with the legal authority to establish standards for law enforcement officer hiring, training, and ethical conduct.

Regulatory Actions

Following the enactment of the bill, the Attorney General is required to update regulations within 180 days to ensure compliance with the new provisions. This includes modifying existing codes to facilitate the access outlined in the bill.

Impact on Stakeholders

The bill primarily impacts governmental and training agencies involved in law enforcement but does not specify provisions that would directly affect private companies or individual citizens outside of those contexts.

Relevant Companies

None found.