BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 118
By: Harris, Chris (Brimer)
05-09-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Currently, municipalities do not have access to the Texas
Department of Public Safety's database on criminal records while
screening applicants for employment with that municipality.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 118 entitles a municipality to criminal history
record information for applicants for employment.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 411F, Government Code, by adding Section
411.128, as follows:

     Sec. 411.128.  ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION:
     EMPLOYMENT BY MUNICIPALITY.  (a)  Authorizes a municipality to
     obtain criminal history record information from the Department
     of Public Safety that relates to a person who is an applicant
     for employment by the municipality.
     
     (b)  Prohibits a municipality from obtaining under this
       section any information about a person if the municipality
       is entitled to obtain under another section of this
       subchapter any criminal history record information about the
       person.
       
SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
                    Effective date: upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

SB 118 was considered by the full committee in a formal meeting on
May 8, 1995.  The bill was reported favorably without amendment
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent
to Local and Consent Calendars by the record vote of 9 ayes, 0
nays, 0 pnv, and 0 absent.