HBA-GUM H.B. 2925 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2925
By: Bonnen
Urban Affairs
4/6/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not allow a municipal employer to use its own police
department to perform a criminal background check on an applicant who is
applying for a municipal position.  Cities must request this information
through the Department of Public Safety, by mail or the Internet.  A fee is
charged for such a request and the process of submitting a request and
receiving a response by mail may be slow.  H.B. 2925 entitles a
municipality to obtain from a law enforcement agency of the municipality
with access to the information, criminal history record information
regarding an applicant for municipal employment. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 411.129(a), Government Code, to include a law
enforcement agency of the municipality with access to criminal history
information among the entities from which a municipality is entitled to
obtain criminal history information regarding an applicant for municipal
employment. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.