The department must require certain applicants to take a polygraph before commissioning or hiring them, and it must keep the results confidential, with a limited disclosure exception.
Sec. 411.0074. POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS FOR CERTAIN APPLICANTS. (a) This section does not apply to: (1) an applicant who is currently a peace officer of the department commissioned by the department; or (2) an applicant for a police communications operator position who is currently employed by the department in another police communications operator position. (b) Before commissioning an applicant as a peace officer or employing an applicant for a police communications operator position, the department shall require the applicant to submit to the administration of a polygraph examination in accordance with rules adopted under Subsection (e). (c) The polygraph examination required by this section may only be administered by a polygraph examiner who: (1) is a peace officer commissioned by the department; or (2) has a minimum of two years of experience conducting preemployment polygraph examinations for a law enforcement agency. (d) The department and the polygraph examiner shall maintain the confidentiality of the results of a polygraph examination administered under this section, except that the department may disclose any admission of criminal conduct made during the course of an examination to another appropriate governmental entity. (e) The department shall adopt reasonable rules to specify the point in the hiring process at which the department shall require a polygraph examination to be administered under this section and the manner in which the examination shall be administered. Rules relating to the administration of a polygraph examination shall be adopted in accordance with the guidelines published by the American Polygraph Association or the American Association of Police Polygraphists. (f) The department shall use the results of a polygraph examination under this section as a factor in determining whether to commission a peace officer or employ an applicant for the position of police communications operator. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 955 (H.B. 1589), Sec. 2, eff. June 18, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 663 (H.B. 1560), Sec. 2.03, eff. September 1, 2021.