83R6397 JSC/CLG-F

By: West S.B. No. 990

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to criminal history record information obtained or disseminated by a private entity; providing a civil penalty; authorizing fees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 411.0851, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(b) Unless the entity is regulated by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1681 et seq.) or the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. Sections 6801 to 6809), a private entity described by Subsection (a) that purchases or otherwise obtains criminal history record information from the department or from another governmental agency or entity in this state:

(1) may disseminate that information only if, within the 60-day [90-day] period preceding the date of dissemination, the entity:

(A) originally obtains that information; or

(B) receives that information as updated record information to its database; and

(2) shall on a quarterly basis notify the department of the name and contact information of each similar entity to which [if] the entity sold [sells] any compilation of the information in the previous quarter [to another similar entity].

(b-1) Unless the entity is regulated by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1681 et seq.) or the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. Sections 6801 to 6809), a private entity described by Subsection (a) that purchases or otherwise obtains criminal history record information from a similar entity or other private entity:

(1) may disseminate that information only if the private entity verifies that the information was originally obtained or updated by the department or other governmental agency or entity within the 60-day period preceding the date of dissemination; and

(2) shall on a quarterly basis notify the department of the name and contact information of each similar entity or other private entity to which the entity sold any compilation of the information in the previous quarter.

SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 411.0852, 411.0853, 411.0854, and 411.0855 to read as follows:

Sec. 411.0852. ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION MAINTAINED BY PRIVATE ENTITY; DISPUTES OF ACCURACY. (a) On written request by a person who is the subject of criminal history record information maintained by a private entity that compiles and disseminates for compensation criminal history record information, the entity shall provide to the person a copy of all records maintained by the entity not later than the 30th business day after the receipt of the request.

(b) A person is entitled to receive one copy of the person's criminal history record information pursuant to a request under Subsection (a) at no charge to the person each calendar year. An entity described by Subsection (a) may charge a reasonable fee for subsequent copies requested by the person within a calendar year.

(c) If a person disputes the accuracy of any portion of the person's criminal history record information maintained by the private entity described by Subsection (a), the person may submit a written request to the entity for verification. On receipt of a written request under this subsection, the entity shall promptly initiate an investigation into the accuracy of the disputed information. Not later than the 30th day after the date the written request is received, the entity shall complete the investigation, notify the person who is the subject of the disputed information of the outcome of the investigation, and correct the information as applicable.

(d) A private entity that fails to comply with this section is liable for any damages that are sustained as a result of the violation by the person who is the subject of that information. A person who prevails in an action brought under this section is also entitled to recover court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

Sec. 411.0853. PUBLIC DISCLOSURES BY PRIVATE ENTITIES; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) Each private entity that compiles and disseminates for compensation criminal history record information to customers shall, not later than the 30th day after the date the entity begins doing business in this state, disclose the entity's name and contact information to the department in the form and manner prescribed by the department.

(b) The department shall publish the disclosures required under this section on the department's Internet website.

(c) The department may adopt rules to implement this section.

(d) An entity that fails to comply with Subsection (a) is liable to the state for a civil penalty of $500 for each violation. Each day the violation continues constitutes a separate violation for purposes of this subsection.

(e) At the request of the department, the attorney general shall bring an action to recover the civil penalty authorized by Subsection (d). The attorney general and the department may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining the civil penalty, including court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigation costs, witness fees, and deposition expenses.

(f) A civil penalty collected under Subsection (d) shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the department for the administration of this chapter.

Sec. 411.0854. DISCLOSURES BY PRIVATE ENTITIES TO PURCHASERS OR OTHER RECIPIENTS. A private entity that compiles and disseminates for compensation criminal history record information to customers shall disclose to each purchaser or recipient at the time the information is provided:

(1) each source from which the entity compiled the information; and

(2) the date on which the information was last updated or verified.

Sec. 411.0855. DUTIES OF PURCHASER OR RECIPIENT OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION USED FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS. A person who purchases, accesses, or otherwise receives criminal history record information and uses the information for purposes of employment, licensing, housing, or other related background checks of an individual shall disclose to the individual who is the subject of the information the name and contact information of the entity from which the person received the information.

SECTION 3. Chapter 20, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by adding Section 20.022 to read as follows:

Sec. 20.022. FURNISHING OF CONSUMER REPORT FOR EMPLOYMENT OR HOUSING PURPOSES; EXCEPTION FOR NATIONAL SECURITY INVESTIGATION. (a) This section does not apply to the furnishing of a consumer report to an agency or department of the federal government that seeks to obtain and use the report for employment purposes and whose agency or department head makes a written finding as prescribed by 15 U.S.C. Section 1681b(b)(4)(A).

(b) A consumer reporting agency that compiles and reports information related to a consumer's criminal history for purposes of furnishing a consumer report for employment or housing purposes shall implement and maintain strict procedures designed to ensure that the criminal history record information reported is complete and up-to-date. For purposes of this subsection, criminal history record information contained in a consumer report is considered:

(1) complete if the information reflects the notations of arrest and the filing and disposition of any criminal charges, if applicable; and

(2) up-to-date if information related to an arrest, indictment, or conviction of a crime reflects the most recent public record status of the information at the time the consumer report is furnished.

SECTION 4. (a) Section 411.0851, Government Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to information disseminated on or after the effective date of this Act. Information disseminated before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the information was disseminated, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

(b) The Department of Public Safety shall adopt rules to implement Section 411.0853, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2014.

(c) An entity subject to Section 411.0853, Government Code, as added by this Act, is not required to submit the initial disclosures required under that section before February 1, 2014.

(d) Section 411.0854, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to criminal history record information provided to a purchaser or recipient on or after the effective date of this Act. Criminal history record information provided to a purchaser or recipient before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the information was provided, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

(e) Section 411.0855, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to criminal history record information accessed, purchased, received, or otherwise used on or after the effective date of this Act. Criminal history record information accessed, purchased, received, or otherwise used before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the information was accessed, purchased, received, or otherwise used, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. Not later than October 1, 2013, a private entity that compiles and disseminates for compensation criminal history record information shall:

(1) submit the initial quarterly notification under Section 411.0851, Government Code, as amended by this Act; and

(2) file the information required by Section 411.0853, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.