79R2701 KEG-F

By:  Driver                                                       H.B. No. 1589


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of polygraph examinations to certain applicants for positions in the Department of Public Safety. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 411.007(c), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) An applicant for a position in the department must be a United States citizen. An applicant may not be questioned regarding the applicant's political affiliation or religious faith or beliefs. The department may not prohibit an officer or employee of the department, while off duty and out of uniform, from placing a bumper sticker endorsing political activities or a candidate for political office on a personal vehicle, placing a campaign sign in the person's private yard, making a political contribution, or wearing a badge endorsing political activities or a candidate. An officer commissioned by the department may not be suspended, terminated, or subjected to any form of discrimination by the department because of the refusal of the officer to take a polygraph examination. Section 411.0074 does not authorize the department to require an officer commissioned by the department to take a polygraph examination. SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 411.0074 to read as follows: Sec. 411.0074. POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS FOR CERTAIN APPLICANTS. (a) This section does not apply to: (1) an applicant who is currently a peace officer of the department commissioned by the department; or (2) an applicant for a police communications operator position who is currently employed by the department in another police communications operator position. (b) The department shall require each applicant for a peace officer or police communications operator position in the department to submit to the administration of a polygraph examination. (c) The polygraph examination required by this section may only be administered by a polygraph examiner licensed under Chapter 1703, Occupations Code, who: (1) is a peace officer commissioned by the department; or (2) has a minimum of two years of experience conducting preemployment polygraph examinations for a law enforcement agency. (d) The department and the polygraph examiner shall maintain the confidentiality of the results of a polygraph examination administered under this section, except that: (1) the department and the polygraph examiner may disclose the results in accordance with Section 1703.306, Occupations Code; and (2) notwithstanding Section 1703.306, Occupations Code, the department may disclose any admission of criminal conduct made during the course of an examination to another appropriate governmental entity. (e) The department shall adopt reasonable rules for the administration of a polygraph examination under this section in accordance with the guidelines published by the American Polygraph Association or the American Association of Police Polygraphists. (f) The department shall use the results of a polygraph examination under this section as a factor in determining whether to commission a peace officer or employ an applicant for the position of police communications operator. SECTION 3. Section 411.0074, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an applicant who submits an application for a position in the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.