Texas Government Code 411.131 – Access to Criminal History Record Information: Safe Houses
(a) In this section:
(1) “Safe house” means a nonprofit organization:
(A) whose primary purpose is to provide temporary shelter for children avoiding harmful situations;
(B) that is certified as a bona fide safe house by a local law enforcement agency; and
(C) that is operating as a “Safe House.”
(2) “Volunteer” or “volunteer applicant” means a person who will perform one or more of the following services without remuneration:
(A) any service performed in a safe house;
(B) any service that requires the access to or the handling of money or confidential or privileged information;
(C) any service that involves the care of or access to a child;
(D) coordination or referral of volunteers; or
(E) executive administrative responsibilities.
(b) A safe house is entitled to obtain from the department criminal history record information maintained by the department that relates to a person who is a volunteer or a volunteer applicant of the volunteer center, if the volunteer or applicant signs a written consent to a criminal history background check.
Terms Used In Texas Government Code 411.131
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 296, Sec. 13(10).
(d) The department may establish rules governing the administration of this section.
(e) A safe house may not keep or retain criminal history record information obtained under this section in any file. Criminal history record information must be destroyed promptly after the determination of suitability of the person for any position as a volunteer.
(f) A safe house or an officer or volunteer of a safe house is not liable in a civil action for damages resulting from a failure to comply with this section if the safe house, officer, or volunteer makes a good faith effort to comply.