H.B. 983 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 983 By: Talton Local Government Ways and Means Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current statutory law grants municipalities and counties the authority to request that the Department of Public Safety conduct background checks on potential employees. The authority was granted because employees of both counties and municipalities often enter upon the property of residents and, therefore, should be of the highest moral and ethical character. The duties of employees of an appraisal district are no different. In order to evaluate property, staff must visit and inspect property. In addition, employees are responsible for setting property values, which allocate billions of dollars in local tax revenue. It is most important that prospective employees with a questionable background be immediately eliminated from employment consideration. The purpose of HB 983 is to grant the authority to appraisal districts to request a background check from the Department of Public Safety. 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. ANALYSIS Section One of HB 983 amends Chapter 411 of the Government Code to grant the authority to appraisal districts to request background checks on an applicant for employment. EFFECTIVE DATE Immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If the Act does not receive the necessary vote it takes effect September 1, 2003.