bill widening PUC access to background records

The text as introduced · 447 words

89R9646 SCR-D

By: Blanco
S.B. No. 2698

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.