Bill > HB14

This bill introduces a new requirement for law enforcement agencies to maintain a "department file" for each licensed employee, which is a separate file from their personnel file. The department file must include letters, memorandums, or documents related to the employee, particularly those involving alleged misconduct that did not have sufficient evidence to substantiate the claim. The law specifies that the head of a law enforcement agency or their designee must create and maintain these files. While these files are generally confidential and not subject to public disclosure under open records laws, they can be shared with the licensing commission during investigations, viewed by hiring law enforcement agencies, and potentially disclosed under certain legal circumstances or existing meet and confer agreements before September 1, 2025. If another agency or person requests information from the department file, the law enforcement agency must refer them to the agency head and cannot release the file's contents. The bill will take effect 91 days after the end of the legislative session, providing time for agencies to implement the new record-keeping requirements.

Military Affairs and Security

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=891&Bill=HB14