3 Takeaways From the NAPBS 2015 Mid-Year Conference

As both a sponsor and exhibitor at NAPBS, we’re always proud to support the Mid-Year Legislative & Regulatory Conference. Looking back on the April 2015 conference, here are 3 takeaways from the perspective of Craig Caddell, ClearStar VP and NAPBS Associate Member Director.

Government Relations
Akin Gump is the new NAPBS government relations partner. They managed our Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill with poise even when rooms were switched without notice. We were very warmly received at each of the meetings our advocacy group from Georgia attended. I assume this was a reflection on Akin Gump’s clout as well as good old Southern hospitality.

Industry Happenings
Stronger state advocacy is a necessity. Making sure NAPBS knows who can affect local legislative initiatives is in everyone’s best interest. For instance, TX HB2700 would require clerks in Texas to refer bulk criminal history information requests to the Department of Public Safety. This could slow if not prevent bulk data requests from being fulfilled in Texas.

The Texas bill was introduced in March and is currently pending in committee. If it makes it out of committee there is little likelihood of stopping it. The coalition that brought this bill did so without detection. We need eyes watching new legislation at the state level. Akin Gump actively solicited members to submit their contact information for the grassroots action database.

Advocacy Day
Advocacy Day was a tremendous success with 50 NAPBS members sharing the NAPBS message with congress. The day kicked off with opening messages from Senators Tim Walberg, who introduced HR548 (the “Certainty in Enforcement Act”), and Sheldon Whitehouse.

From there, NAPBS members split into small groups meeting with over 40 offices rallying support for HR548, which would protect employers from a claim of disparate impact by the EEOC when complying with federal, state, or local requirements to conduct background checks in a regulated industry. NAPBS members also provided members of congress with infographics explaining the screening business and comparing name-based searches with the FBI fingerprint database.

The 2015 NAPBS Mid-Year Conference was highly successful, and we look forward to continuing our deep support of the organization’s efforts.

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