Noble’s bill widening bars on juvenile officer certification

The text as introduced · 415 words

89R4609 CJD-D

By: Noble
H.B. No. 3276

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of certain individuals for

certification as certain juvenile officers or employees of a

juvenile facility.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 222.054, Human Resources Code, is

amended by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b),

(c), and (d) to read as follows:

(a-1) This section applies to an individual, regardless of

whether the individual holds a certification under this chapter,

who is or was employed by, under contract with, or volunteering for:

(1) the department;

(2) a juvenile probation department; or

(3) a juvenile facility registered with the

department.

(b) Subject to Subsection (d), the [ The ] department may

designate as permanently ineligible for certification under this

chapter an individual to whom this section applies if:

(1) while employed by, under contract with, or

volunteering for an entity described by Subsection (a-1), the

individual engaged [ who has been terminated from employment with

the department for engaging ] in conduct that :

(A) violates this chapter or a department rule;

or

(B) demonstrates the individual is not suitable

for certification under this chapter ; or

(2) a panel under Subsection (c) determines the

individual's certification would threaten juveniles in the

juvenile justice system .

(c) The executive director may convene, in person or

telephonically, a panel of three board members to determine if the

[ a former department employee's ] continued eligibility of an

individual to whom this section applies to obtain a certification

under this chapter threatens juveniles in the juvenile justice

system. If the panel determines an individual's eligibility for

certification threatens juveniles in the juvenile justice system,

the department shall temporarily designate the individual as

ineligible for certification until an administrative hearing is

held under Subsection (d). The hearing must be held as soon as

possible following the temporary designation. The executive

director may convene a panel under this subsection only if the

danger posed by the person's continued eligibility for

certification is imminent. The panel may hold a telephonic meeting

only if immediate action is required and convening the panel at one

location is inconvenient for any member of the panel.

(d) A person is entitled to a hearing before the State

Office of Administrative Hearings if the department proposes to

designate a person as permanently ineligible for certification as

provided by Subsection (b) .

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.