Texas House Bill HB548

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to the consideration of criminal history record information regarding applicants for employment.

Impact

The implementation of HB 548 will impact hiring practices in Texas by stipulating that employers may only inquire about criminal histories after a conditional job offer has been made or an interview is scheduled. Furthermore, any criminal history record information pertaining to offenses that occurred over seven years prior to the employment decision cannot be considered. This aims to create a more equitable labor market, particularly benefiting those who have rehabilitated and wish to reintegrate into the workforce.

Summary

House Bill 548, introduced by Representative Deshotel, addresses how employers in Texas can consider criminal history record information when evaluating applicants for employment. The bill amends Chapter 52 of the Labor Code, establishing a new subchapter that outlines the permissible uses of criminal history during the hiring process. Primarily, it prohibits employers from including questions about an applicant's criminal history on initial employment applications, thereby promoting fairer hiring practices that do not prematurely disqualify candidates based on past offenses.

Contention

While proponents of the bill argue that it will ultimately help reduce discrimination in hiring practices against those with past criminal records, there may be contention about balancing the rights of applicants with the needs of employers to ensure workplace safety and suitable candidate selection. Critics might express concerns about potential repercussions on workplace security due to the limitation on considering past criminal conduct among candidates.