88R9566 ANG-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 2609
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to access to criminal history record information by the
Public Utility Commission 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 411.14031 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.14031. ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD
INFORMATION: PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS. (a) The Public
Utility Commission of Texas is entitled to obtain from the
department criminal history record information maintained by the
department that relates to a person required to undergo a criminal
history background check under Section 12.107, Utilities Code.
(b) Criminal history record information obtained under
Subsection (a):
(1) is for the exclusive use of the Public Utility
Commission of Texas and is privileged and confidential; and
(2) may not be released or disclosed to any person or
agency except on court order or with the consent of the person who
is the subject of the information.
(c) The Public Utility Commission of Texas may destroy
criminal history record information obtained under Subsection (a)
after the information is used for the purposes authorized by this
section.
(d) This section does not prohibit the Public Utility
Commission of Texas from obtaining and using criminal history
record information as provided by other law.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 12, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 12.107 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.107. REQUIRED CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS FOR
EMPLOYEES. (a) The commission shall perform a state and federal
criminal history background check on a person who is:
(1) an applicant for employment with the agency; or
(2) an employee of the agency.
(b) The commission shall require a person described by
Subsection (a) to submit fingerprints in a form and of a quality
acceptable to the Department of Public Safety and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation for use in conducting a criminal history
background check.
(c) The commission shall obtain electronic updates from the
Department of Public Safety of arrests and convictions of a person:
(1) for whom the commission performs a background
check under Subsection (a); and
(2) who remains an employee of the commission.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.