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89(R) SB 1437 - Enrolled version - Bill Text
S.B. No. 1437
AN ACT
relating to the eligibility of certain individuals for
certification as certain juvenile officers or employees of a
juvenile facility.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 222.054, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b),
(c), and (d) to read as follows:
(a-1)
This section applies to an individual who does not
hold a certification under this chapter and who is or was employed
by, under contract with, or volunteering for:
(1) the department;
(2) a juvenile probation department; or
(3)
a juvenile facility registered with the
department.
(b)
Subject to Subsection (d), the
[
The
] department may
designate as permanently ineligible for certification under this
chapter an individual
to whom this section applies if:
(1)
while employed by, under contract with, or
volunteering for an entity described by Subsection (a-1), the
individual engaged
[
who has been terminated from employment with
the department for engaging
] in conduct that
:
(A)
violates this chapter or a department rule;
or
(B)
demonstrates the individual is not suitable
for certification under this chapter
; or
(2)
a panel under Subsection (c) determines the
individual's certification would threaten juveniles in the
juvenile justice system
.
(c) The executive director may convene, in person or
telephonically, a panel of three board members to determine if
the
[
a former department employee's
] continued eligibility
of an
individual to whom this section applies
to obtain a certification
under this chapter threatens juveniles in the juvenile justice
system. If the panel determines an individual's eligibility for
certification threatens juveniles in the juvenile justice system,
the department shall temporarily designate the individual as
ineligible for certification until an administrative hearing is
held under Subsection (d). The hearing must be held as soon as
possible following the temporary designation. The executive
director may convene a panel under this subsection only if the
danger posed by the person's continued eligibility for
certification is imminent. The panel may hold a telephonic meeting
only if immediate action is required and convening the panel at one
location is inconvenient for any member of the panel.
(d) A person is entitled to a hearing before the State
Office of Administrative Hearings if the department proposes to
designate a person as permanently ineligible for certification
as
provided by Subsection (b)
.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
______________________________
______________________________
President of the Senate
Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1437 passed the Senate on
April 10, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 5, 2025, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1437 passed the House, with
amendment, on April 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 144,
Nays 0, three present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor