HB 2521

ON MARCH 19, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2336, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 r ewrites this bill to revise present law concerning background checks for fire protection personnel. Present law requires fire protection personnel to: (1) Provide past work history and personal references to be checked by the employer; (2) Agree to the release of information required for a criminal background investigation by a professional background screening organization or criminal background check services or registry; and (3) When seeking employment with a public fire agency, supply a fingerprint sample and submit to a criminal history records check to be conducted by the TBI, the FBI, another law enforcement agency, or another legally authorized entity. Present requires that any cost incurred by the TBI, FBI, professional background screening organization, law enforcement agency, or other legally authorized entity in conducting investigations of fire protection personnel to be paid by the employer; prov ided, that an employer may require the applicant or employee to reimburse the employer for the costs. This amendment deletes (3) and provides that a n employer is required to pay any cost incurred in conducting background investigations of fire protection personnel ; provided, that a n employer may require an applicant or employee to reimburse the employer for such costs.