SRC-HRD S.B. 964 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 964
By: Ratliff
Finance
4-2-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

 Currently, the State Board of Medical Examiners, the State Board of
Dental Examiners, the State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of
Podiatric Medical Examiners, and the State Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners are required to submit names of all licensees to the Department
of Public Safety (DPS) on a monthly basis so that DPS can perform monthly
criminal history checks. This bill amends current law to require these
criminal history checks to be performed on a yearly basis rather than on a
monthly basis.  In addition, this bill allows DPS to charge the licensing
agency a fee for each computer match performed.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 964 requires the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to
perform, at least yearly, a computer match of  the licensing list against
the convictions maintained in the computerized criminal history system.
In addition, this bill authorizes DPS to charge the licensing agency a fee
for each computer match. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 60.061(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, to
require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to perform at least yearly,
rather than monthly, a computer match of the licensing list against the
convictions maintained in the computerized criminal history system.
Authorizes DPS to charge the licensing agency a fee for each computer
match performed under this subsection.  Requires the fee to be in the
amount prescribed by Section 411.088, Government Code, for processing an
inquiry for criminal history record information. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.