{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=1A14BAE8-9534-4B55-9CD0-DF679F5EBD5F", "Sens. Moran, Whitehouse Introduce Legislation to Improve Vetting for Law Enforcement Hiring", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", "moran", "https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) \u2013 the lead Republican on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science \u2013 and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) \u2013 a member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary \u2013 today introduced legislation that would allow Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) offices to have access to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) to improve vetting and hiring of local law enforcement officers.\n\n\u201cProtecting communities in Kansas and across the nation starts with hiring quality law enforcement officers,\u201d said Sen. Moran. \u201cThis legislation would help states and local law enforcement agencies have greater access to criminal data to improve the vetting and hiring of potential law enforcement officers, who are tasked with keeping our communities safe and secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaintaining trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect is crucial to upholding public safety,\u201d said Sen. Whitehouse. \u201cOur legislation ensures that state POST organizations have all the information they need to fully evaluate new recruits\u2019 suitability so disqualified individuals and known bad actors don\u2019t slip through the cracks.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Kansas Commission on Peace Officers\u2019 Standards and Training (KSCPOST) applauds Kansas Senator Jerry Moran his exemplary leadership on crucial legislation extending criminal justice information system access to the KSCPOST and POST agencies in all states,\u201d said Doug Schroeder, Executive Director of KSCPOST. \u201cThis important step will enhance the safety and effectiveness of our law enforcement community, helping to ensure that our officers are well-equipped to serve and protect the people of Kansas. His dedication to supporting public safety is truly appreciated.\"\n\n\u201cThe International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) commends Senators Moran and Whitehouse for their outstanding leadership on this critical legislation,\u201d said Mike Becar, Executive Director of IADLEST. \u201cDirectors of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) agencies play a vital role in preventing individuals with disqualifying criminal histories from securing or maintaining employment or volunteer positions in law enforcement across the United States. This legislation will provide POST agencies with essential access to information needed to conduct thorough and effective vetting of prospective law enforcement officers, ensuring public safety and trust.\u201d\n\nPOST offices are responsible for setting the training and hiring standards for state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. POST offices do not have access to the NCIC, limiting the scope of available information on prospective law enforcement officers.\n\nText of the legislation can be found here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=1A14BAE8-9534-4B55-9CD0-DF679F5EBD5F"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9470609948039055, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}