SRC-VRA S.B. 1459 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1459
78R7036 YDB-FBy: Lindsay
Intergovernmental Relations
4/7/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law authorizes a variety of state and local governmental entities
to request criminal history record information from the Texas Department
of Public Safety on job applicants to ensure that criminals are not
performing vital government functions such as public safety
responsibilities.  County fire marshals coordinate the delivery of
essential fire and emergency medical services for unincorporated areas of
counties and would like to be able to screen potential employees of these
agencies for criminal history.   As proposed, S.B. 1459 authorizes a
county fire marshal to request criminal history record information on
potential employees of their agencies and other fire and emergency medical
services agencies in unincorporated areas of the county and to share that
information with those agencies. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 411F, Government Code, by adding Section
411.1237, as follows: 

Sec.  411.1237.  ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION: COUNTY
FIRE MARSHALS.  (a)  Provides that a county fire marshal is entitled to
obtain criminal history record information from the Department of Public
Safety (DPS) on members of fire or emergency medical services agencies in
unincorporated areas of the county. 

(b)  Authorizes a county fire marshal to disclose the criminal history
record information to DPS chief or chief executive of the requesting fire
department or emergency medical services provider. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.