Required Criminal History Checks For Employees, Contractors, and Volunteers

Sec. 555.021. REQUIRED CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS FOR EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AND VOLUNTEERS. (a) The department, the Department of State Health Services, and the Health and Human Services Commission shall perform a state and federal criminal history background check on a person: (1) who is: (A) an applicant for employment with the agency; (B) an employee of the agency; (C) a volunteer with the agency; (D) an applicant for a volunteer position with the agency; (E) an applicant for a contract with the agency; or (F) a contractor of the agency; and (2) who would be placed in direct contact with a resident or client. (b) The department, the Department of State Health Services, and the Health and Human Services 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) Each agency shall obtain electronic updates from the Department of Public Safety of arrests and convictions of a person: (1) for whom the agency performs a background check under Subsection (a); and (2) who remains an employee, contractor, or volunteer of the agency and continues to have direct contact with a resident or client. Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 284 (S.B. 643), Sec. 22, eff. June 11, 2009. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1027 (H.B. 2673), Sec. 10, eff. June 14, 2013.