Washington § 43.216.170 - Applicants for positions with the department — Investigation and background checks.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 43.216.170 — Applicants for positions with the department — Investigation and background checks., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 43.216.170. Applicants for positions with the department — Investigation and background checks.

(1) The secretary shall investigate the conviction records, pending charges, and disciplinary board final decisions of any current employee or applicant seeking or being considered for any position with the department who will or may have unsupervised access to children. This includes, but is not limited to, positions conducting comprehensive assessments, financial eligibility determinations, licensing and certification activities, investigations, surveys, or case management; or for state positions otherwise required by federal law to meet employment standards.
(2) The secretary shall require a fingerprint-based background check through both the Washington state patrol and the federal bureau of investigation as provided in RCW 43.43.837. Unless otherwise authorized by law, the secretary shall use the information solely for the purpose of determining the character, suitability, and competence of the applicant.
(3) Criminal justice agencies shall provide the secretary such information as they may have and that the secretary may require for such purpose.
(4) Any person whose criminal history would otherwise disqualify the person under this section from a position that will or may have unsupervised access to children shall not be disqualified if the department of social and health services reviewed the person's otherwise disqualifying criminal history through the department of social and health services' background assessment review team process conducted in 2002 and determined that such person could remain in a position covered by this section, or if the otherwise disqualifying conviction or disposition has been the subject of a pardon, annulment, or other equivalent procedure.
[ 2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 s 801.]

Notes

Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 ss 102, 104-115, 201-227, 301-337, 401-419, 501-513, 801-803, and 805-822: See note following RCW 43.216.025.

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 43.216.170

What does Revised Code of Washington § 43.216.170 cover?

Section 43.216.170 ("Applicants for positions with the department — Investigation and background checks.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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Is this the official text of Washington law?

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