By: Seliger S.B. No. 922
(In the Senate - Filed March 2, 2021; March 11, 2021, read
first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice;
April 15, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6,
Nays 0; April 15, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to contracts for fingerprinting services entered into by
the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 411.0865 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.0865. CONTRACTS FOR FINGERPRINTING SERVICES. (a)
If the department enters into a contract with a vendor to provide
fingerprinting services throughout this state for use in accessing
criminal history record information, including a contract entered
into under Section 2157.068, the department shall:
(1) include in the contract a provision that:
(A) requires notice to the public of a closure of
a location providing fingerprinting services at least 45 days
before the date on which the location closes;
(B) requires a mobile unit to provide
fingerprinting services in or near the area of a location that
closes until a replacement location is opened at full capacity; and
(C) allows the department to contract with a
second vendor to provide fingerprinting services or to provide
fingerprinting services by other means if the department determines
that the original vendor has not fulfilled the contract in a
reasonable manner; and
(2) annually review and prepare a report on the
services provided by the vendor under the contract that includes a
determination on the vendor's ability to adequately address the
need for fingerprinting services throughout this state based on:
(A) the availability of fingerprinting
appointments throughout this state, including any wait times for
appointments at locations; and
(B) a study of the miles required to travel
throughout this state in order to receive fingerprinting services
and whether there are short-term or chronic gaps in coverage in
certain areas of this state.
(b) The department shall provide the report prepared under
Subsection (a)(2) to the governor and members of the legislature.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a contract for which the Department of Public Safety of the State
of Texas first advertises or otherwise solicits bids, proposals,
offers, or qualifications or makes a similar solicitation on or
after the effective date of this Act. A contract for which the
Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas first advertises
or otherwise solicits bids, proposals, offers, or qualifications or
makes a similar solicitation before the effective date of this Act
is governed by the law in effect on the date the advertisement or
solicitation is made, and that law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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