SRC-JBJ H.B. 2925 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2925
76R8945 DRH-DBy: Bonnen (Brown)
Criminal Justice
5/4/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, state law does not allow a municipal employer to use its own
police department to perform a criminal background check on an applicant
who is applying for a municipal position.  Cities must request this
information through the Department of Public Safety (DPS), by mail or by
Internet. However, DPS charges a fee for the request and the process of
submitting a request and receiving a response by mail may be slow.  H.B.
2925 would entitle a municipality to obtain from a law enforcement agency
of the municipality with access to the information, criminal history record
information regarding an applicant for municipal employment. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2925 authorizes a municipality to use its own law
enforcement agency to access information and perform a criminal history of
an applicant for municipal employment. 

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 Section 411.129(a), Government Code, to include a law
enforcement agency of the municipality with access to criminal history
information among the entities from which a municipality is entitled to
obtain criminal history information regarding an applicant for municipal
employment. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.