AB 2796: Criminal history information: background checks.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

(1)Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, establishes the Board of Registered Nursing to license and regulate the practice of nursing. Existing law requires an applicant for licensure as a registered nurse to comply with specified education and other requirements.

This bill would also require an applicant for licensure as a registered nurse to undergo a fingerprint-based state and national criminal history background check, would require the board to submit to the Department of Justice (department) fingerprint images and related information for applicants, and would require the department to provide a state- and federal-level response, as specified.

(2)Existing law requires the department to maintain state summary criminal history information, as defined, and to furnish this information to various state and local government officers and officials, as well as other prescribed entities, including, among others, a city, county, city and county, or district, if needed in the course of their duties. Existing law authorizes the Attorney General to furnish state summary criminal history information and, if authorized, federal-level criminal history information, upon a showing of a compelling need, to specified entities, including, among others, peace officers of the United States, other states, or territories or possessions of the United States. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to furnish criminal history information to a person who is not authorized by law to receive it.

This bill would instead make those provisions applicable to a city, county, city and county, or governmental district. The bill would also authorize the Attorney General to provide that information to peace officers of tribes in other states under the same conditions. The bill would prescribe a procedure by which a city, county, city and county, or governmental district submit fingerprint images and related information to the department. The bill would make a release of information by the department under these provisions subject to specified federal regulations. By expanding access to criminal history information, this bill would expand a crime and therefore impose a state-mandated local program.

(3)Existing law requires employees, prospective employees, volunteers, contractors, and subcontractors of a criminal justice agency to undergo a fingerprint-based state and national criminal history background check. Existing law requires the department to provide a state- and federal-level response, as specified.

This bill would make that provision, with regard to a volunteer, contractor, or subcontractor, only applicable to a volunteer, contractor, or subcontractor who either provides services for the administration of criminal justice or has direct or remote access to the criminal justice agency’s systems or unescorted access to a criminal justice agency’s facilities.

Sponsors

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 18, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 313, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 18, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 10, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 30, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6927.).
5. August 30, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 30, 2026Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).
7. August 28, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 27, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 24, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 20, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
11. August 17, 2026Ordered to third reading.
12. August 17, 2026From Consent Calendar.