OF 

I hereby waive any privilege or right to confidentiality that I might otherwise assert to protect
against public disclosure of the following document(s):

1. Memorandum from Rob Ellman to Speaker Gowan dated 3/31/2016 re ?improved
Security Measure re: Criminal Background Checks for Non-Employee Access Badge

Holders?

2. The policy attached to 1 above which states at the header SPEAKER APPROVAL 
EFFECTIVE UPON signed and dated 3/31/2016

 
 

.  
David Gowan, Speaker of the House Date

CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT

TO: Speaker Gowan
FROM: Rob Ellman
RE: Improved Security Measure re: Criminal Background Checks for Non-Employee

Access Badge Holders SPEAKER APPROVAL REQUIRED

DATE: March 31, 2016

 

Staff has been addressing the security concerns that arose ea?ier this week when protesters
repeatedly disrupted an Elections Committee meeting and then disrupted ?oor proceedings. The
situation became dangerous and required law enforcement intervention. These events on Monday
were followed by an incident yesterday outside the Governor?s of?ce which again required law
enforcement intervention and the forcible removal and arrest of protesters.

One critical concern of immediate importance is the possibility that someone intending harm
could breach the physical barrier (a single door) separating the public area from the non?public area
in which our Members and employees work. Accordingly, both the Security Of?ce (per Bob
Robles) and the Sergeant?at?Arms have recommended that any non?employee who holds a badge
with access to non?public parts of the building should pass a criminal background check.

I discussed the security policy with the Sergeant?at?Arms in early February. He told me that
he was already in the process of developing a comprehensive security policy that would include"
criminal background checks among other measures to reduce our ?soft target? type of vulnerability.
I strongly recommend, in light of this week?s events, that the criminal background check 
requirement be instituted immediately, and that non?employee access badges be revoked for anyone
who refuses to undergo a background check (or who fails a background check). Bob Robles and
Billy Cloud concur.

Based on the foregoing, Lesli Sorensen and I drafted a policy (copy attached) for your
approval. Since the non?employee badge holders are generally if not exclusively law enforcement
of?cers and reporters, I have also coordinated with Stephanie Grisham. If you approve the attached
policy, Stephanie will contact the reporters who hold badges and give them until April 5 to submit a
signed background check application". Badges would be revoked on April 5 for anyone declining to
submit to the background check. The checks will be done through the House Security Of?ce.

If you approve the policy, please sign and date where indicated on the attachment.

FOR SPEAKER APPROVAL EFFECTIVE UPON SIGNATURE

The House of Representatives will not issue, and will rescind, badges granting
non?public access to non-employees who have been convicted of a felony within
the last ten years or a misdemeanor within the last five years, excluding traffic
arrests. Exceptions may be granted at the Speaker?s discretion but only if the
conviction did not involve physical violence or assault or the threat of physical
violence or assault, kidnapping, any sex offense, trespass, burglary, arson, theft,
robbery, fraud, stalking, extortion, bribery, eavesdropping, or any class 1?4 felony

or its equivalent.

APPROVED: 0(2) 230% 

David Gowan, Speaker of the House

DATE: Merck 1m