NORFOLK , Va. , Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Following mounting security concerns in the nation's shipyards, naval contractors may soon be able to check employees against state criminal databases. The Virginian-Pilot reported that on Feb. 22 a Senate courts committee approved Virginia General Assembly Bill HB524. Under Bill HB524, naval contractors would be allowed to vet employee names through state criminal databases. Last year , two subcontractors working at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard were arrested for possessing fake documents portraying them as U.S. citizens, which they used to gain access to the facility for work. The incident follows several similar occurrences. The legislation would permit Northrop Grumman and other shipyards to run names through the databases in order check employees' backgrounds and citizenship. Contractors would be allowed to fingerprint workers. Northrop Grumman lobbyist Stephen Haner said , "In many cases , we're really asking whether they told the truth , which is important," adding that many other Virginia-based businesses, from nursing homes to power plants, already are allowed to run employees' names through the state criminal history database. Northrop Grumman would be charged $15 for each search. The legislation, if passed into law, would leave it up to the shipyards and repair companies to decide whether they want to run criminal background checks on new employees and to determine the kind of criminal background that would result in firing or prosecution. If HB524 passes, it would apply only to new employees and contractors, not current shipyard employees.

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