S.B.�No.�1057
AN ACT
relating to criminal history record information relating to persons
who are certified to provide guardianship services.
�������BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
�������SECTION�1.��Section 411.1386, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) and adding
Subsection (a-6) to read as follows:
�������(a)��Except as provided by Subsections (a-1), [and] (a-5),
and (a-6), the clerk of the county having venue over a proceeding
for the appointment of a guardian under Chapter XIII, Texas Probate
Code, shall obtain from the department criminal history record
information maintained by the department that relates to:
�������������(1)��a private professional guardian;
�������������(2)��each person who represents or plans to represent
the interests of a ward as a guardian on behalf of the private
professional guardian;
�������������(3)��each person employed by a private professional
guardian who will:
�������������������(A)��have personal contact with a ward or proposed
ward;
�������������������(B)��exercise control over and manage a ward's
estate; or
�������������������(C)��perform any duties with respect to the
management of a ward's estate;
�������������(4)��each person employed by or volunteering or
contracting with a guardianship program to provide guardianship
services to a ward of the program on the program's behalf; or
�������������(5)��any other person proposed to serve as a guardian
under Chapter XIII, Texas Probate Code, including a proposed
temporary guardian and a proposed successor guardian, other than
the ward's or proposed ward's family member or an attorney.
�������(a-6)The clerk described by Subsection (a) is not required
to obtain criminal history record information for a person who
holds a certificate issued under Section 111.042 or a provisional
certificate issued under Section 111.0421 if the Guardianship
Certification Board conducted a criminal history check on the
person before issuing or renewing the certificate. The board shall
provide to the clerk at the court's request the criminal history
record information that was obtained from the department or the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
�������(b)��Criminal history record information obtained by or
provided to a clerk under Subsection (a), [or] (a-5), or (a-6) is
for the exclusive use of the court and is privileged and
confidential.
�������(c)��Criminal history record information obtained by or
provided to a clerk under Subsection (a), [or] (a-5), or (a-6) may
not be released or disclosed to any person or agency except on court
order or with the consent of the person who is the subject of the
information.��The clerk may destroy the criminal history record
information after the information is used for the purposes
authorized by this section.
�������(d)��The criminal history record information obtained under
Subsection (a-4) is for the exclusive use of the court or
Guardianship Certification Board, as appropriate, and is
privileged and confidential.��The information may not be released
or otherwise disclosed to any person or agency except on court
order, with the [or] consent of the person being investigated, or as
authorized by Subsection (a-6) or Section 698(a-6), Texas Probate
Code.��The county clerk or Guardianship Certification Board may
destroy the criminal history record information after the
information is used for the purposes authorized by this section.
�������(e)��The court, as that term is defined by Section 601, Texas
Probate Code, shall use the information obtained or provided under
Subsection (a), (a-4)(1), [or] (a-5), or (a-6) only in determining
whether to:
�������������(1)��appoint, remove, or continue the appointment of a
private professional guardian, a guardianship program, or the
Department of Aging and Disability Services; or
�������������(2)��appoint any other person proposed to serve as a
guardian under Chapter XIII, Texas Probate Code, including a
proposed temporary guardian and a proposed successor guardian,
other than the ward's or proposed ward's family member or an
attorney.
�������SECTION�2.��Subsection (c), Section 411.1406, Government
Code, as added by Chapter 15 (S.B. 505), Acts of the 80th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, is amended to read as follows:
�������(c)��Criminal history record information obtained by the
board under Subsection (b):
�������������(1)��may be used by the board for any purpose related to
the issuance, denial, suspension, revocation, or renewal of a
certificate issued by the board;
�������������(2)��may not be released or disclosed to any person
except:
�������������������(A)��on court order;
�������������������(B)��[or] with the consent of the person who is the
subject of the information; or
�������������������(C)as authorized by Section 411.1386(a-6) of
this code or Section 698(a-6), Texas Probate Code; and
�������������(3)��shall be destroyed by the board after the
information is used for the authorized purposes.
�������SECTION�3.��Section 698, Texas Probate Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), and (b-1) and adding Subsection
(a-6) to read as follows:
�������(a)��Except as provided by Subsections (a-1), [and] (a-5),
and (a-6) of this section, the clerk of the county having venue over
the proceeding for the appointment of a guardian shall obtain
criminal history record information that is maintained by the
Department of Public Safety or the Federal Bureau of Investigation
identification division relating to:
�������������(1)��a private professional guardian;
�������������(2)��each person who represents or plans to represent
the interests of a ward as a guardian on behalf of the private
professional guardian;
�������������(3)��each person employed by a private professional
guardian who will:
�������������������(A)��have personal contact with a ward or proposed
ward;
�������������������(B)��exercise control over and manage a ward's
estate; or
�������������������(C)��perform any duties with respect to the
management of a ward's estate;
�������������(4)��each person employed by or volunteering or
contracting with a guardianship program to provide guardianship
services to a ward of the program on the program's behalf; or
�������������(5)��any other person proposed to serve as a guardian
under this chapter, including a proposed temporary guardian and a
proposed successor guardian, other than the ward's or proposed
ward's family member or an attorney.
�������(a-6)The clerk described by Subsection (a) of this section
is not required to obtain criminal history record information for a
person who holds a certificate issued under Section 111.042,
Government Code, or a provisional certificate issued under Section
111.0421, Government Code, if the Guardianship Certification Board
conducted a criminal history check on the person before issuing or
renewing the certificate. The board shall provide to the clerk at
the court's request the criminal history record information that
was obtained from the Department of Public Safety or the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
�������(b)��The criminal history record information obtained or
provided under Subsection (a), [or] (a-5), or (a-6) of this section
is for the exclusive use of the court and is privileged and
confidential.��The criminal history record information may not be
released or otherwise disclosed to any person or agency except on
court order or consent of the person being investigated.��The
county clerk may destroy the criminal history information records
after the records are used for the purposes authorized by this
section.
�������(b-1)��The criminal history record information obtained
under Subsection (a-4) of this section is for the exclusive use of
the court or Guardianship Certification Board, as appropriate, and
is privileged and confidential.��The information may not be
released or otherwise disclosed to any person or agency except on
court order, with the [or] consent of the person being
investigated, or as authorized by Subsection (a-6) of this section
or Section 411.1386(a-6), Government Code. The county clerk or
Guardianship Certification Board may destroy the criminal history
record information after the information is used for the purposes
authorized by this section.
�������SECTION�4.��The changes in law made by this Act apply to a
proceeding for the appointment of a guardian that is pending or
filed on or after the effective date of this Act.
�������SECTION�5.��Notwithstanding Section 4 of this Act, the
requirement that the Guardianship Certification Board provide
criminal history record information to a county clerk on request
that is imposed by Subsection (a-6), Section 411.1386, Government
Code, as added by this Act, and Subsection (a-6), Section 698, Texas
Probate Code, as added by this Act, applies only with respect to
criminal history record information obtained by the board on or
after January 1, 2009.
�������SECTION�6.��This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
���President of the Senate Speaker of the House�����
�������I hereby certify that S.B.�No.�1057 passed the Senate on
April�16, 2009, by the following vote:��Yeas�31, Nays�0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate����
�������I hereby certify that S.B.�No.�1057 passed the House on
May�26, 2009, by the following vote:��Yeas�144, Nays�0, one present
not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House���
Approved:
______________________________�
������������Date
______________________________�
����������Governor