Handbook Revision, June 1, 2026

Reportable Conduct Checks for Contracted Services (PATS 00243)

This policy revision adds reportable conduct checks. Implementation of these checks for all background check populations will begin in June 2026. Implementation is due to Senate Bill (SB) 1849, which was passed by the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023.

See:

2000 Background Checks for Contracted Services

2100 Division of Staff Responsibilities for Background Checks for Contracted Services Purchased Client Services

2110 DFPS Background Checks (BC) Staff

2120 Program Staff

2130 Contractors and Grantees

2200 Requesting a Background Checks

2210 Contractors and Grantees with Multiple Contracts and Grants

2220 24-Hour Residential Child Care Providers That under HHSC Child Care Regulation Licensing Regulates

2230 Renewing a Background Checks

2300 Completing an FBI Fingerprint-Based Check

2400 Assessing the Results of Background Checks

2410 DFPS History

2411 Risk Assessment for DFPS History

2420 Criminal History

2421 Sex Offender Registry Records

2422 Juvenile History Records

2423 Risk Assessment for Criminal History

2430 Reportable Conduct History

2431 Risk Assessment for Reportable Conduct History

2430 2440 Out-of-State Abuse and Neglect History Check

2500 Making a Determination

2510 Cleared Eligible

2520 Absolute Bar

Reportable Conduct Checks for Single Source Continuum Contractors (PATS 00244)

Adding reportable conduct check information to this policy section. Implementation of these checks for SSCC population begins June 2026. These checks are being added due to the passing of SB 1849 during the 88th Texas Legislative Session in 2023.

See:

10000 Background Checks for Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCC)

10100 Division of Responsibilities for Background Checks on SSCC Staff Members, Volunteers, Contractors, and Subcontractors

10110 SSCC Responsibilities

10120 Contract Administration Manager (CAM) Responsibilities

10130 Program Support Application & Data Support Responsibilities

10140 Background Checks Staff Responsibilities

10200 Background Check Renewals

10300 Background Check Determinations

10310 Cleared Eligible

10320 Absolute Bar

10330 Risk Assessment

10340 Incomplete Background Check

Reportable Conduct Checks for Non-DFPS Staff (PATS 00245)

This policy section includes updates for reportable conduct checks as required by SEMARC.

See:

3000 Background Checks for Non-DFPS Staff

3100 Populations Exempted From from Background Checks for Non-DFPS Staff

3200 Defining Staff Responsibilities

3210 DFPS Sponsor

3220 Program Support Application & Data Support and Network Security Administrators

3230 Background Checks Division Program

3300 Background Check Renewals

3400 Background Check Assessments and Determinations

3410 Cleared Determination

3420 Absolute Bars

3430 Risk Assessment

3440 Bar for Incomplete Background Checks

Background Checks for DFPS Volunteers and Interns (PATS 00256)

This handbook revision adds information related to reportable conduct checks.

See:

7000 Background Checks for DFPS Volunteers and Interns

7100 Defining Staff Responsibilities

7110 Background Checks Staff

7120 Faith-Based Community Engagement Staff

7200 FBI Fingerprint Checks

7200 7300 Background Check Renewals

7300 7400 Background Check Determinations

7310 7410 Eligible/Cleared

7320 7420 Ineligible/Absolute Bars

7321 7421 Sex Offender Registration

7330 7430 Risk Assessment

7340 7440 Ineligible/Bar for Incomplete Background Checks

Reportable Conduct Checks for External Partner Organizations (PATS 00257)

This policy revision adds reportable conduct checks.

See:

9000 Background Checks for External Partner Organizations

9100 External Partner Organizations

9110 Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)

9120 Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC)

9130 Human Trafficking Advocacy Agencies

9140 Superior Health Plan

9150 Texas Juvenile Justice Department

9200 Requesting a Background Check

9210 BBBS and CAC

9220 Human Trafficking Advocacy Agencies

9230 SHP Request for Child Abuse/Neglect Central Registry Check

9240 TJJD Request for Background Check

9300 Processing Background Check Results

9310 BBBS and CAC

9320 Human Trafficking Advocacy Agencies

9330 SHP Request for Central Registry Results

9340 TJJD Request for Central Registry Check

9400 Completing a Risk Assessment

Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation History Bars for DFPS Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers, and Interns, Non-DFPS Staff, and CASA (PATS 00259)

This handbook revision adds policy about reportable conduct, which is necessary for the Search Engine Multi-Agency Reportable Conduct (SEMARC).

See:

Appendix 1: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation History Bars for DFPS Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers, and Interns, Non-DFPS Staff, and CASA Employees, Volunteers, and Board Members

Background Checks for Prospective and Current Employees (PATS 00279)

This policy revision updates Section 4000 of the Background Checks Handbook, which addresses background checks for DFPS prospective and current employees.

See:     

4000 Background Checks for DFPS Prospective and Current Employees

4100 Defining Staff Responsibilities

4110 Background Checks Staff

4120 Human Resources (HR) Staff

4130 DFPS Hiring Authority

4200 Background Check Results

4210 DFPS History

4211 Reportable Conduct History

4211 Regional Positions

4212 State Office Positions

4220 4212 Criminal History

4221 4213 Sex Offender Registration

4230 4214 Background Checks Requiring Review

4215 Risk Assessment

4211 4216 Regional Positions

4213 4217 Marking Cases as Sensitive in IMPACT

4300 Making an Employment Eligibility Decision

4310 Eligible Background Checks

4320 Ineligible Background Checks

4321 4330 Incomplete Background Checks