FY 2020 NICS Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP)

The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, P. L. 110-180 ("NIAA"), was initially signed into law by the President on January 8, 2008 (reauthorized by Title VI of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, P.L. 115-141). The NIAA 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 NIAA authorizes grants to be made in a manner consistent with the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP).

Under the 2020 NARIP priority areas, the North Dakota (ND) Office of Attorney’s General Division of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will use NARIP funds for 2 projects: an AFIS Upgrade and a Livescan purchase project.

AFIS Upgrade: ND BCI will use funds to, in collaboration with Minnesota, to purchase an AFIS replacement system. The costs will be allocated based on population so ND BCI’s project costs include $582,000 or 12% of the AFIS replacement cost. The upgraded system will have the updated technology that supports the current capabilities as well as additional biometric-based functionality that cannot be deployed in the current system. The replacement system will be known as the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which will be robust, scalable, adaptable, and will allow rapid changes to respond to changing needs and requirements. The ABIS will replace the current functionality while upgrading the underlying technology and provide more flexibility into the future.

Livescan Purchase project: ND BCI will also use funds to purchase 6 Livescans. The Livescans will replace the ink and roll process at local law enforcement agencies. The 6 law enforcement agencies were identified based on location and the volume of fingerprint cards submitted annually. The Livescans will significantly increase the efficiency and accuracy of fingerprints processed and information that is shared on the state and federal records systems.

CA/NCF