I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3557
To require the establishment of a Federal system for the purpose of conduct-
ing background checks to prevent the employment of child abusers by
child care providers, to establish a Federal point-of-purchase background
check system for screening prohibited firearms purchasers, to provide
accurate and immediately accessible records for law enforcement pur-
poses, to assist in the identification and apprehension of violent felons,
and to assist the courts in determining appropriate bail and sentencing
decisions.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 19, 1993
Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To require the establishment of a Federal system for the
purpose of conducting background checks to prevent the
employment of child abusers by child care providers,
to establish a Federal point-of-purchase background
check system for screening prohibited firearms pur-
chasers, to provide accurate and immediately accessible
records for law enforcement purposes, to assist in the
identification and apprehension of violent felons, and to
assist the courts in determining appropriate bail and
sentencing decisions.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Criminal
Records Identification Act of 1993’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) the technological capability exists to identify
violent felons, convicted child abusers, and other
predatory criminals through existing criminal justice
records;
(2) advances in electronic communication and
data compilation make it possible to check criminal
history records instantaneously to identify child
abusers who seek employment or access to child care
facilities, felons who attempt to purchase handguns,
fugitives for whom arrest warrants exist, and con-
victed persons prior to sentencing by courts of
justice;
(3) five States are currently demonstrating the
practicability of instantaneous electronic screening of
handgun purchasers, and other States are dem-
onstrating the practicability of electronic screening
of child care personnel;
(4) the vast majority of serious criminal career
activity occurs between the ages of 18 and 30; Jus-
tice Department research indicates that 80 percent
or more of the current nationwide criminal records
for dangerous criminals committing offenses the last
5 years are in automated form allowing a viable in-
stant check system to be implemented immediately;
(5) a key element in operating the point-of-pur-
chase sale system is a master name index, whether
automated or manual, which directs the system to
the full criminal history record of an individual; De-
partment of Justice research indicates that such in-
formation is currently 100 percent available in 44 or
more States;
(6) continuing Department of Justice initiatives
for improving criminal history records have directed
State remedial efforts toward automating criminal
records in reverse chronological order, focusing on
persons with a record of criminal activity within the
last 5 years;
(7) at least 39 States, which account for more
than 80 percent of all criminal records, have a fully
automated master name index; even in States where
the records are not fully automated, immediate na-