Bill > SB781

This bill establishes new rules for maintaining a "department file" for law enforcement agency employees who hold professional licenses. The bill defines a department file as a special file maintained by a law enforcement agency for each licensed employee, which must include letters, memorandums, or documents related to the employee, particularly those involving alleged misconduct that did not result in formal charges. The agency head must create and maintain these files, which will be confidential and generally not subject to public disclosure under open records laws. However, the files can be shared with the licensing commission during investigations, viewed by other law enforcement agencies hiring the employee, and potentially disclosed if permitted by existing meet and confer agreements. If someone requests information from a department file, the agency must refer them to the agency head and cannot release the information directly. The provisions of this bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and are designed to create a standardized, controlled method for tracking potential performance or conduct issues for licensed law enforcement personnel without immediately escalating them to formal personnel records.

Justice, Military Affairs and Security

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB781