Senate Bill No. 14 introduces a new section, 1701.45351, to the Occupations Code, which mandates that law enforcement agencies maintain a "department file" for each licensed employee. This file is intended for internal use and must include any documents related to the employee that are not part of their personnel file, particularly those concerning alleged misconduct that did not have sufficient evidence to support a charge. The bill also stipulates that agencies hiring a license holder can review the department files from previous employers and must provide these files to the commission upon request or as part of an ongoing investigation.

Furthermore, the bill establishes strict confidentiality for the contents of the department files, allowing disclosure only as required by law. It prohibits law enforcement agencies from releasing any information from these files to outside parties, directing such requests to the agency head or their designee. The new provisions aim to enhance the management of employee records within law enforcement agencies while ensuring that sensitive information remains protected. The act is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session.

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