S.B. 567 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 567 By: West Public Health Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This bill expands the ability of certain hospitals to make criminal history background checks during the employment screening process for the purpose of hospital patient safety. Under current law, public hospitals are granted access to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) criminal information database in order to perform background checks on potential employees. Private nonprofit hospitals have been denied this access and this bill would authorize these hospitals to be included to receive DPS access. 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 The Act amends the Government Code to give nonprofit hospitals access to the DPS criminal database in order to conduct background checks on employees. "Nonprofit hospital" is defined and added to the type of hospital entitled to this access. This bill makes the conforming changes to include nonprofit hospitals where responsibilities and regulations of this access are discussed. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.