Bill Text: TX SB1553 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to criminal history record information checks of employees of residential dwelling projects, including employees of public housing authorities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-23 - Referred to Intergovernmental Relations [SB1553 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-SB1553-Introduced.html

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82R7221 AJZ-F
By: Rodriguez S.B. No. 1553

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to criminal history record information checks of employees
of residential dwelling projects, including employees of public
housing authorities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 411.081(i), Government Code, as amended
by Chapters 183 (H.B. 1830), 780 (S.B. 1056), 816 (S.B. 1599), and
1027 (H.B. 4343), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session,
2009, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:
(i) A criminal justice agency may disclose criminal history
record information that is the subject of an order of nondisclosure
under Subsection (d) to the following noncriminal justice agencies
or entities only:
(1) the State Board for Educator Certification;
(2) a school district, charter school, private school,
regional education service center, commercial transportation
company, or education shared service arrangement;
(3) the Texas Medical Board;
(4) the Texas School for the Blind and Visually
Impaired;
(5) the Board of Law Examiners;
(6) the State Bar of Texas;
(7) a district court regarding a petition for name
change under Subchapter B, Chapter 45, Family Code;
(8) the Texas School for the Deaf;
(9) the Department of Family and Protective Services;
(10) the Texas Youth Commission;
(11) the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative
Services;
(12) the Department of State Health Services, a local
mental health service, a local mental retardation authority, or a
community center providing services to persons with mental illness
or retardation;
(13) the Texas Private Security Board;
(14) a municipal or volunteer fire department;
(15) the Texas Board of Nursing;
(16) a safe house providing shelter to children in
harmful situations;
(17) a public or nonprofit hospital or hospital
district;
(18) the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;
(19) the securities commissioner, the banking
commissioner, the savings and mortgage lending commissioner, or the
credit union commissioner;
(20) the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy;
(21) the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation;
(22) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(23) the Department of Aging and Disability Services;
(24) the Texas Education Agency; [and]
(25) the Guardianship Certification Board; [and]
(26) a county clerk's office in relation to a
proceeding for the appointment of a guardian under Chapter XIII,
Texas Probate Code;
(27) [(25)] the Department of Information Resources
but only regarding an employee, applicant for employment,
contractor, subcontractor, intern, or volunteer who provides
network security services under Chapter 2059 to:
(A) the Department of Information Resources; or
(B) a contractor or subcontractor of the
Department of Information Resources;
(28) [(25)] the Court Reporters Certification Board;
[and]
(29) [(25)] the Texas Department of Insurance; and
(30) a housing authority, as defined by Section
392.002, Local Government Code.
SECTION 2. Sections 411.118(a) and (b), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) In this section, "employer" ["employer," "employee,"
"occupant,"] and "residential dwelling project" have the meanings
assigned by Section 765.001, Health and Safety Code.
(b) An employer is entitled to obtain from the department
criminal history record information maintained by the department
that pertains to a person who:
(1) is an applicant for a position of employment in a
residential dwelling project to whom an offer of employment is
made; or [and]
(2) is employed in a residential dwelling project [may
be reasonably required to have access to the residence of an
occupant].
SECTION 3. Section 765.002(a), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) This chapter applies to:
(1) each applicant for a position of employment in a
residential dwelling project to whom an offer of employment is
made; and
(2) each person employed in a residential dwelling
project [and who, in the course and scope of the employment, may be
reasonably required to have access to a dwelling in the residential
dwelling project].
SECTION 4. Sections 765.003(a), (c), (d), and (e), Health
and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) An employer may request an applicant to disclose to the
employer the applicant's criminal history at any time before or
after an offer of employment is made to the applicant, including
during any period of employment resulting from the offer. Any time
after [After] an offer of employment is made, including during any
period of employment resulting from the offer, the employer may
verify through the department any criminal history record
information that is maintained by the department relating to the
[that] applicant or employee and that the department is authorized
to release under Chapter 411, Government Code. The employer may
verify the information only in compliance with this section and
with the authorization of the individual who is the subject of the
criminal history record information [applicant and in compliance
with this section].
(c) The department may adopt rules relating to an employer's
access to criminal history record information, including
requirements for submission of:
(1) the employer's complete name, current street
address, and federal employer identification number;
(2) an affidavit by an authorized representative of
the employer stating that the employer currently employs or has
offered a position of employment in a residential dwelling project
to the individual whose criminal history is requested [has been
offered a position of employment by the employer in a residential
dwelling project and that, in the course and scope of the
employment, the individual may be reasonably required to have
access to a dwelling in the residential dwelling project]; and
(3) the complete name, date of birth, social security
number, and current street address of the individual signing the
affidavit.
(d) An affidavit submitted under Subsection (c) must
include a statement, executed by the employed individual or
individual offered the position of employment, as applicable, that
authorizes the employer to obtain the criminal history record of
the individual.
(e) The department may not provide an employer with the
criminal history record information of an applicant or employee
under this chapter unless the employer is entitled to receive the
information under Section 411.118, Government Code.
SECTION 5. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
over another Act of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011,
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
codes.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.