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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to access to criminal history record information by the |
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Public Utility Commission of Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.14031 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.14031. ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD |
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INFORMATION: PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS. (a) The Public |
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Utility Commission of Texas is entitled to obtain from the |
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department criminal history record information maintained by the |
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department that relates to a person required to undergo a |
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background and criminal history check under Section 12.107, |
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Utilities Code. |
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(b) Criminal history record information obtained under |
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Subsection (a): |
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(1) is for the exclusive use of the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas and is privileged and confidential; and |
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(2) may not be released or disclosed to any person or |
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agency except on court order or with the consent of the person who |
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is the subject of the information. |
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(c) The Public Utility Commission of Texas may destroy |
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criminal history record information obtained under Subsection (a) |
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after the information is used for the purpose authorized by this |
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section. |
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(d) This section does not prohibit the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas from obtaining and using criminal history |
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record information as provided by other law. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 12, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 12.107 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.107. REQUIRED CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS FOR CERTAIN |
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EMPLOYEES. Before hiring an employee for a position whose duties |
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include access to confidential information related to the electric |
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grid, the commission shall: |
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(1) obtain from the Department of Public Safety or a |
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private vendor all criminal history record information relating to |
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the prospective employee; or |
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(2) ascertain that the prospective employee holds in |
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good standing an occupational license issued by a licensing |
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authority in this state that has, before issuing or renewing the |
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license, performed a criminal history background check. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |