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.