Recently, the Burnet County Commissioners adopted a new policy related to county employee background security checks.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Jim Luther Jr., Pct. 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle, Pct. 3 Commissioner Chad Collier, and Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery approved the security checks during their Jan. 28 meeting.
“The new policy requires all Burnet County employees to have a background check,” County Human Resources Director Shirley Bullard told the Bulletin. “It covers newly-hired individuals, regardless of whether the job utilizes secure data.”
Although this is the first county-wide background- check policy, all county employees with access to sensitive information have always been screened, Bullard said.
Eventually, all county employees will be required to undergo a background check, she added.
The checks will be conducted “as soon as possible,” Bullard said.
Furthermore, the checks will comply with certification and security procedures recommended by Criminal Justice Information Services, especially for employees with access to the Enterprise Justice Case Management System, Bullard said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety supports the CJIS system, she added.
“We are not looking to fire anybody because something might show up on the background check,” Bullard said. “It is about following procedures and ensuring compliance. If an employee will not work with sensitive data, the elected official will have a broader range of discretion as to whether an individual is appropriate for a position.”
Burnet County relies significantly on the federal government E-Verify electronic online system to determine the eligibility of employees, Bullard said.
“It requires identification stipulated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration,” she added.
Data gathered through a background check will be protected in the manner prescribed by law, Bullard said.
“They will be stored with an employee’s confidential and protected records,” she added.
