House Bill No. 3675 introduces new regulations regarding the consideration of criminal history for applicants seeking public employment in Texas. The bill adds Chapter 621 to the Government Code, defining "public employer" to include various state government entities and political subdivisions, while explicitly stating that the chapter does not apply to independent school districts or positions within law enforcement agencies. Under the new provisions, public employers are prohibited from obtaining criminal history information or asking applicants about their criminal history before making a conditional offer of employment. However, they may inform applicants about specific disqualifying convictions or include relevant questions on initial application forms, provided these pertain only to offenses that would lead to disqualification.

The bill also clarifies that public employers can obtain criminal history information only after a conditional offer has been made. The changes will apply to employment applications submitted on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Applications submitted prior to this date will be governed by the existing laws.

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