(a) The board of nursing may require an original applicant for licensure as a professional nurse, practical nurse or mental health technician to be fingerprinted and submit to a state and national criminal history record check. The fingerprints shall be used to identify the applicant and to determine whether the applicant has a record of criminal history in this state or other jurisdictions. The board of nursing is authorized to submit the fingerprints to the Kansas bureau of investigation and the federal bureau of investigation for a state and national criminal history record check. The board of nursing may use the information obtained from fingerprinting and the applicant’s criminal history for purposes of verifying the identification of any applicant and in the official determination of character and fitness of the applicant for any licensure to practice professional or practical nursing or mental health technology in this state.

(b) Local and state law enforcement officers and agencies shall assist the board of nursing in taking and processing of fingerprints of applicants to practice professional or practical nursing or mental health technology in this state and shall release all records of adult convictions and nonconvictions and adult convictions or adjudications of another state or country to the board of nursing.

(c) The board shall fix a fee for fingerprinting of applicants or licensees, or both, as may be required by the board in an amount necessary to reimburse the board for the cost of the fingerprinting. Fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the criminal background and fingerprinting fund.

(d) There is hereby created in the state treasury the criminal background and fingerprinting fund. All moneys credited to the fund shall be used to pay the Kansas bureau of investigation for the processing of fingerprints and criminal history background checks for the board of nursing. The fund shall be administered by the board of nursing. All expenditures from the fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by the president of the board or a person designated by the president.