A new Ohio law that helps streamline background checks for hazardous waste employees also sets in place a notification process when any of them is arrested, similar to the one used for teachers.
Sponsored by State Senator Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, the legislation requires the state’s Environmental Background Investigation Unit to employ the same innovative, cutting-edge technology used by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Senate Bill 302 calls for use of the system called RAPBACK — retained applicant fingerprint database information exchange, which is used to monitor any crimes committed by teachers.
“They can get the information within 24 hours,” Manning said. “It’s not costing the state a penny, and it will save the businesses money.”
Manning attended a signing ceremony with Gov. John Kasich, and Maggie Kelch from Ross Environmental Services in Elyria and Rick Timm from Chemtron Corp. in Avon Lake, who provided guidance on the bill.
Kelch said the companies used to have to complete about 30 pages of paperwork each year on each employee, including getting fingerprints. Now that will be done electronically, she said.
“This will save us a lot of time and labor,” Kelch said.
Hazardous waste companies know they have to be accountable because of the nature of the material that is being handled, she said.
“We understand the government wants to be certain that people of quality and integrity are doing the work,” Kelch said.
Steve Lonneman of Vickery Environmental, which operates an injection well in western Ohio, also attended the signing ceremony and expressed gratitude.
“It brings it up to the technology of 2012,” Lonneman said.
Manning said she has sponsored 25 bills in her time as senator, including the bill for Blue Alerts when police officers are in trouble.
“They’re all things brought to me from people in the district,” she said.
Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
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