BWH C.S.H.B. 3534 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


COUNTY AFFAIRS
C.S.H.B. 3534
By: Farrar
4-30-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, the Harris County Hospital District does not have access to the
criminal history record of employees or potential employees.   

PURPOSE

The purpose of this legislation is to allow the Harris County Hospital
District to obtain criminal history records of employees or potential
employees.  

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.  However, Section 411.132(a) could create the need for the
Department of Public Safety to promulgate additional rules to implement
the requirement. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 411, subchapter F of the Government Code by
adding Section 411.132, ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION:
HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT as follows: 
 1) Subsection (a) entitles the Harris County Hospital District to obtain
criminal history information from DPS for an applicant for employment or
volunteer, an existing employee or volunteer, and an applicant or employee
of a contractor; 
 2) Subsection (b) provides for the method of collecting the information;
 3) Subseciton (c) allows the hospital district to dismiss from or deny a
position 
to an employee or applicant under this Section;
 4) Subsection (d) provides that the information collected under this
Section is confidential; 
 5) Subseciton (e) provides how the district shall handle information
collected under this Section; and  
 6) Subsection (f) provides immunity from liabililty for certain persons
under this Section. 
 
SECTION 2.  Effective date September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute is a Legislative Council draft of the original, and it
makes no substantitive changes.