Idaho's 2011 NICS Act Record Improvement Program

The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, Pub. L. 110-180 ("NICS Improvement Act"), was signed into law by the President on January 8, 2008. The NICS Improvement Act amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 ("the Brady Act") (Pub. L. 103-159), under which the Attorney General established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The Brady Act requires Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to contact the NICS before transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person for information on whether the proposed transferee is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. The NICS Improvement Act authorizes grants to be made in a manner consistent with the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP).

The Idaho State Police and the Idaho courts system have collaborated to conduct projects that will enhance information sharing throughout the state. These projects will improve how information flows from the court at the local level, through the state, and ultimately to all who have approved access to the FBI's National Crime Information Center and Interstate Identification Index systems. While the enhancements to the state criminal history repository and the state level system supporting warrant, protection order, sex offender and other records improves the NICS program, they also increase security against terrorism. Enhancing these systems makes the availability of this information originated at the local level available at the national level. Idaho will also use funds to replace livescan devices in jail and correctional facilities that produce large volumes of arrests. Replacing these livescans will ensure that the large volume arresting agencies will be able to submit their arrest data in a timely manner to the state and national criminal history file.

A task force was developed to create Idaho's NICS Record Improvement Plan. The Task Force will continue to work on creating a Plan that will help the state determine what additional improvements need to be made to its criminal history record system and devise ways to enhance it. (CA/NCF)