AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Persons who have been convicted of certain offenses are currently prohibited from obtaining employment at facilities serving the elderly or persons with disabilities.  Further, for purposes of an employee misconduct registry, certain conduct of employees at certain health facilities is specified as "reportable conduct" in current law.  H.B. 2609 seeks to increase protections for the elderly or persons with disabilities who are served by certain facilities by expanding the applicability of the employment prohibition to include additional offenses and expanding the definition of "reportable conduct" to include additional conduct.

 

H.B. 2609 amends current law relating to employment at or by certain facilities serving the elderly or persons with disabilities.

 

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 Section 250.006(a), Health and Safety Code, to prohibit a person for whom the facility is entitled to obtain criminal history record information from being employed in a facility if the person has been convicted of certain offenses listed in this subsection, including an offense under Section 36.06 (Obstruction or Retaliation), Penal Code, or an offense under Section 42.09 (Cruelty to Livestock Animals), Penal Code, or under Section 42.092 (Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals), Penal Code.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends the heading to Chapter 253, Health and Safety Code, to read as follows:

 

CHAPTER 253.  CERTAIN EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT; REGISTRY

 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 253.001(5), Health and Safety Code, to redefine "reportable conduct."

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2011.