BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                           H.B. 1241

                                                                                                                                      By: Haggerty

                                                                                                                               Law Enforcement

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Current law prohibits private companies from employing security personnel who have been convicted of a crime that would prevent them from registering under the Occupations Code, Chapter 1702, Private Security Act.  However, there is currently no requirement that the private company maintain a copy of the employees’ criminal history background information on file.

 

Therefore, there is currently no way for Texas Department of Public Safety investigators to verify that the employees are eligible to serve in a security capacity.

 

H.B. 1241 requires that the private business maintain the criminal history records on file at the business and make the record available for inspection by the Texas 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

 

H.B. 1241 amends Section 1702.323, Occupations code, to require that private businesses maintain criminal history records of security employees at the business and make that file available for inspection by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

 

The requirement would affect security employees employed on or after the effective date of the bill.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007.