S.B. No. 15 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 result in sufficient evidence for charges. The head of the agency or their designee is responsible for maintaining these files, which are subject to specific disclosure requirements under existing laws.
Additionally, the bill stipulates that law enforcement agencies hiring a license holder can review the department files from previous employers, and they must provide the contents of these files to the commission upon request or as part of an ongoing investigation. The confidentiality of these department files is emphasized, as they are not to be disclosed to other agencies or individuals, except as required by law. The act is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session.
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