HB 3585
AN ACT relating to the employment policies of and criminal history record
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Modifies employment restrictions for mental health facilities, extending the period during which certain individuals with specific criminal convictions are prohibited from working in positions involving direct consumer contact from 5 to 10 years. The restrictions apply to various facilities including nursing homes, mental health services, and care centers, and cover offenses such as assault, theft, fraud, and disorderly conduct. Additionally, the bill requires mental hospitals and mental health facilities to create and provide a written statement detailing their policies on employee drug testing and criminal background checks to applicants, service recipients, and anyone requesting the information.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the employment policies of and criminal history record information obtained by mental hospitals and mental health facilities and the prohibited employment of certain applicants based on criminal history record information. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 250.001(3), Health and Safety Code, is (A) a nursing facility, custodial care home, or other institution licensed [by the Department of Aging and Disability Services] under Chapter 242; (B) an assisted living facility licensed [by the Department of Aging and Disability Services] under Chapter 247; (C) a home and community support services agency (D) a day activity and health services facility licensed [by the Department of Aging and Disability Services] under Chapter 103, Human Resources Code; (E) an ICF-IID licensed under Chapter 252; (F) an adult foster care provider that contracts with the Health and Human Services Commission [Department of Aging (G) a facility that provides mental health services and that is operated by or contracts with the Department of (H) a local mental health authority designated under Section 533.035 or a local intellectual and developmental disability authority designated under Section 533.035; (I) a person exempt from licensing under Section (J) a special care facility licensed [by the Department of State Health Services] under Chapter 248; (K) a mental health service unit of a hospital licensed under Chapter 241; [or] (L) a prescribed pediatric extended care center licensed [by the Department of Aging and Disability Services] under (M) a mental hospital or mental health facility SECTION 2. Section 250.006(b), Health and Safety Code, is (b) A person may not be employed in a position the duties of which involve direct contact with a consumer in a facility or may not be employed by an individual employer before the 10th [fifth] anniversary of the date the person is convicted of: (1) an offense under Section 22.01, Penal Code (assault), that is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor or as a (2) an offense under Section 30.02, Penal Code (3) an offense under Chapter 31, Penal Code (theft), that is punishable as a felony; (4) an offense under Section 32.45, Penal Code (misapplication of fiduciary property or property of financial institution), that is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor or a (5) an offense under Section 32.46, Penal Code (fraudulent securing of document execution), that is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor or a felony; (6) an offense under Section 37.12, Penal Code (false identification as peace officer; misrepresentation of property); (7) an offense under Section 42.01(a)(7), (8), or (9), Penal Code (disorderly conduct). SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 577, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 577.0102 to read as follows: Sec. 577.0102. EMPLOYMENT POLICIES. (a) A mental hospital or mental health facility licensed under this chapter shall prepare a written statement describing the hospital's or facility's policy (1) drug testing employees and applicants for employment who will have direct contact with the hospital's or (2) criminal history record information checks on employees and applicants for employment in accordance with (b) The mental hospital or mental health facility shall provide the written statement required by Subsection (a) to: (1) each person applying for services from the hospital or facility or, for a person who is a minor or is incapacitated, the person's parent, guardian, or legally (2) any person requesting the information. SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 250, Health and Safety Code, apply only to an application for employment submitted to a mental hospital or mental health facility licensed under Chapter 577, Health and Safety Code, on or after the SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, each mental hospital and mental health facility licensed under Chapter 577, Health and Safety Code, shall prepare the written statement of employment policies required by Section 577.0102, Health Safety Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the employment policies of and criminal history record
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