S.B. No. 922
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 permanent
closure of a location accessible to the public that provides
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 as near as practicable to the area of
a location accessible to the public that permanently closes until a
replacement location is opened in that area at full capacity if the
closure would cause the vendor to not meet contractual coverage
requirements; 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 922 passed the Senate on
April 21, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 922 passed the House on
May 18, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor