(a) In addition to the factors that must be considered under §403.7 of this title (relating to Criminal Convictions Guidelines), in determining the present fitness of a person who has been convicted of a crime, the commission shall consider the following evidence:
  (1) the extent and nature of the person's past criminal activity;
  (2) the age of the person at the time of the commission of the crime;
  (3) the amount of time that has elapsed since the person's last criminal activity;
  (4) the conduct and work activity of the person prior to and following the criminal activity;
  (5) evidence of the person's rehabilitation or rehabilitative effort while incarcerated or following release; and
  (6) other evidence of the person's present fitness, including letters of recommendation from:
    (A) prosecution, law enforcement, and correctional officers who prosecuted, arrested, or had custodial responsibility for the person;
    (B) the sheriff or chief of police in the community where the person resides; and
    (C) any other persons in contact with the convicted person.
(b) It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to the extent possible to secure and provide to the commission as required the recommendations of prosecution, law enforcement, and correctional authorities as required by statute and these rules upon request by the commission staff. The applicant shall upon request also furnish:
  (1) a copy of the indictment, information or complaint;
  (2) a copy of the judgement(s) or order(s) of the court adjudicating guilt, granting probation, community supervision, deferred adjudication, or discharge from probation or community supervision;
  (3) a record of steady employment in the form of a letter from current or former employers;
  (4) a record that the applicant has supported his or her dependents in the form of a letter from a person in the applicant's community with personal knowledge of the circumstances;
  (5) evidence that the applicant has paid all outstanding court costs, supervision fees, fines, and restitution as may have been ordered in all criminal cases in which he or she has been convicted, in the form of copies of official records, documents, or a letter from the person's probation or parole officer where applicable concerning his or her current status; and
  (6) a copy of the police or offense report(s).

Source Note: The provisions of this §403.9 adopted to be effective May 23, 1999, 24 TexReg 3860; amended to be effective March 8, 2001, 26 TexReg 2042; amended to be effective July 23, 2007, 32 TexReg 4550; amended to be effective December 18, 2012, 37 TexReg 9782