89R9646 SCR-D
By: Hernandez H.B. No. 4344
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to access to and use of criminal history record
information by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 411.14031, Government Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsections
(a-1) and (b-1) to read as follows:
(a) The Public Utility Commission of Texas is entitled to
obtain as provided by Subsection (a-1) [from the department]
criminal history record information [maintained by the department]
that relates to:
(1) an applicant for employment with the commission;
(2) an employee of the commission who is granted
access to:
(A) the records of an independent organization
certified by the Public Utility Commission of Texas under Section
39.151, Utilities Code; or
(B) critical infrastructure information that is
confidential under state or federal law; or
(3) a person who enters into a contract with the
commission and is granted under that contract access to information
in the commission's records that is confidential under state or
federal law [a person undergoing a background and criminal history
check under Section 12.107, Utilities Code].
(a-1) Subject to Section 411.087 and consistent with the
public policy of this state, the Public Utility Commission of Texas
is entitled to:
(1) obtain through the Federal Bureau of Investigation
criminal history record information maintained or indexed by that
bureau that pertains to a person described by Subsection (a); and
(2) obtain from the department or any other criminal
justice agency in this state criminal history record information
maintained by the department or that criminal justice agency that
relates to a person described by Subsection (a).
(b) Criminal history record information obtained under
Subsection (a-1) [(a):
[(1)] is for the exclusive use of the Public Utility
Commission of Texas and is privileged and confidential.
(b-1) The Public Utility Commission of Texas may not release
or disclose to any person criminal history record information
obtained from the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Subsection
(a-1)(1). Criminal history record information obtained by the
Public Utility Commission of Texas under Subsection (a-1)(2)[; 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 shall [may]
destroy criminal history record information obtained under this
section [Subsection (a)] after the information is used for the
purpose authorized by this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.