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HB 2342

Authorizing the attorney general and the state gaming agency to receive certain additional criminal history records, updating criminal history record language related to the state bank commissioner, requiring the secretary of labor to conduct criminal history record checks on employees who have access to federal tax information and authorizing the secretary of commerce to conduct such checks on final applicants for and employees in certain sensitive positions.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Expands Kansas CHRI access to more officials and targets final Commerce applicants and sensitive positions, enabling state and national background checks to curb fraud risk.

Law effective May 1, 2025
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Bill Summary · HB 2342

Summary — HB 2342 (Kansas) — Criminal history checks; Department of Commerce and other agencies

Status: Approved by Governor (April 8, 2025). Effective upon publication in the Kansas Register (per committee amendment).

Main purpose

HB 2342 expands which state officials and agencies may receive criminal history record information (CHRI) and authorizes targeted state and national criminal background checks for certain applicants and employees — primarily within the Kansas Department of Commerce — to help protect the State from hiring-related fraud and financial risk.

Key provisions

  • Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to request the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) conduct state and national criminal history record checks on:
    • any "final applicant" (defined below) for, and
    • any employee in, a "sensitive position" within the Department of Commerce, under K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 22-4714.
  • Establishes a minimum hiring standard for sensitive positions: no misdemeanor conviction for theft, fraud, forgery, or other financial crimes, and no felony conviction (either before or during employment).
  • Defines:
    • "Final applicant" — an applicant the Secretary has identified as among a select group most qualified and under final consideration for an offer.
    • "Sensitive position" — includes division director, assistant secretary, deputy secretary, IT manager, chief counsel; grant/loan program managers directly involved with accounting/disbursement of funds; and any position the Secretary designates as involving significant financial management, access to confidential personal/business information, or significant fraud/financial-liability risk.
  • Adds the Secretary of Commerce to the list of officials authorized to receive CHRI from the KBI for these purposes.
  • Clarifies that the provisions are subject to (and superseded by) K.S.A. 75-7241, which requires executive-branch agencies to fingerprint and background-check employees at least every five years.
  • The enrolled version makes parallel/related changes to multiple statutes (amending K.S.A. 75-5702 and several 2024 Supp. sections including 9-555, 9-565, 9-2411, 22-4714 and 75-7b01) to:
    • authorize the attorney general and the state gaming agency to receive additional CHRI,
    • update CHRI language related to the state bank commissioner,
    • require the Secretary of Labor to conduct criminal history checks on employees who have access to federal tax information,
    • and authorize the Secretary of Commerce checks noted above.

Who is affected

  • Department of Commerce: hiring processes for final applicants and employees in designated sensitive roles.
  • Applicants and employees in those sensitive positions (subject to background checks and the minimum disqualifying standards).
  • Kansas Bureau of Investigation: will process additional background check requests (fee-for-service revenue expected).
  • Other state entities referenced in the enrolled changes (Attorney General’s Office, state gaming agency, state bank commissioner, Secretary of Labor) — by expanded access or new obligations to run CHRI checks.

Fiscal impact and implementation

  • Department of Commerce reports the agency can implement HB 2342 within existing resources.
  • KBI indicates background-check fees collected will offset staffing and system costs for processing and transmitting CHRI.
  • The Division of the Budget’s fiscal note states any fiscal effects were not reflected in the FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report; no major new appropriation is identified.

Procedure / timeline

  • Introduced: February 3, 2025.
  • Passed Legislature: March–April 2025 (committee and floor actions as recorded).
  • Signed by Governor: April 8, 2025.
  • Effective: upon publication in the Kansas Register (per Senate committee amendment).

Intent and likely effect

The bill is intended to strengthen hiring safeguards for positions that carry financial responsibility or access to sensitive information, reduce risk of fraud or financial loss to the State, and standardize which state officials/agencies may obtain CHRI for employment, licensure, or oversight purposes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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