By Telford                                       H.B. No. 842

      75R3358 MCK-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to certain criminal background checks regarding applicants

 1-3     for and holders of social work licenses.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 411, Government Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Section 411.132 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 411.132.  ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION:

 1-8     TEXAS STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORKER EXAMINERS.  (a)  The Texas State

 1-9     Board of Social Worker Examiners is entitled to obtain from the

1-10     department criminal  history record information maintained by the

1-11     department that relates to a person who is:

1-12                 (1)  an applicant for a social worker's license under

1-13     Chapter 50, Human Resources Code; or

1-14                 (2)  the holder of a license under that chapter.

1-15           (b)  In addition to information obtained from the Federal

1-16     Bureau of Investigation under Section 411.087, the  Texas State

1-17     Board of Social Worker Examiners is entitled to obtain information

1-18     relating to the  wanted persons status of a license applicant or

1-19     license holder.

1-20           SECTION 2.  Chapter 50, Human Resources Code, is amended by

1-21     adding Section 50.0135 to read as follows:

1-22           Sec. 50.0135.  CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD.  The board may obtain

1-23     criminal history record information under Section 411.132,

1-24     Government Code, pertaining to an applicant for or holder of a

 2-1     license issued under this chapter.

 2-2           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-7     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-8     passage, and it is so enacted.