{"id":6746,"date":"2022-07-15T12:47:34","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T10:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blinkx.com\/?p=6746"},"modified":"2022-07-15T12:47:34","modified_gmt":"2022-07-15T10:47:34","slug":"how-long-does-a-background-check-take-in-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessfinancenews.com\/background\/how-long-does-a-background-check-take-in-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"how long does a background check take in texas"},"content":{"rendered":"
Your company is growing, and you suddenly find yourself in need of new talent and need to run a background check texas style<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ve found a wide selection of promising candidates and conducted all the initial interviews, so the next logical step is to do some research on them to make sure they\u2019re safe hires that will provide stability and efficiency to your organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It all sounds pretty standard, but with new legislation being passed every day, it may be challenging to figure out how you can run a background check in Texas while remaining in compliance with the law.<\/span><\/p>\n While many U.S. states share common regulations and laws regarding applicant background checks, they also have\u00a0 individual requirements tailored specifically to meet their needs and those of their population. <\/span>Texas background checks are no different.<\/b><\/p>\n If you\u2019re in the process of hiring new personnel in Texas for your company or the company you work for, you must make sure to stick to those pertaining to your state (Texas), lest you open yourself up to expensive fines and legal repercussions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On the surface, running a background check in Texas seems to be a straightforward, run-of-the-mill procedure; however, the state has a set of very specific guidelines that you must follow to a tee to prevent breaking the law and to guarantee a dignifying, fair process for all the applicants interested in a job opening (a legal requirement of all employer background checks).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These rules are spelled out in Texas law under the Texas Business and Commerce Code in <\/span>section 20.05<\/span> regarding the reporting of prohibited information.<\/span><\/p>\n These are designed to ensure that any interested party can undergo the candidacy process safe from any type of discrimination or otherwise stigmatizing conditions that could hinder their chances at being hired.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In Texas, background checks are overseen by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). They manage the state\u2019s database of convictions and provide records through a centralized database referred to as the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) program.<\/span><\/p>\n However, this database has a catch: only registered law enforcement agencies can pull from its database.<\/span><\/p>\n Some rules to follow during the screening of an applicant are:<\/span><\/p>\n With all these conditions and rules to follow, properly running a background check in Texas can be intimidating and challenging, but it\u2019s nothing compared to the possible consequences not performing one could entail for both you and your business.\u00a0 In reality, there are two main reasons why you\u2019d want to background search your prospects: to protect your company, and to protect your employees and customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Having an employee you can trust is priceless. Finding that ideal worker, who gets the job done and wears your company\u2019s colors proudly, is a one in a million occurrence. Sadly, it\u2019s much more common to have a negative workplace experience, and hiring the wrong person can cause a lot of problems, which can range from a lack of commitment and a loss of productive hours, to petty theft, and even, embezzlement. Performing a background check in Texas can help you lower the odds of stumbling upon a bad hire.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, while looking out for a company\u2019s financial assets is extremely important, protecting your other employees and customers should also be a priority. Failing to adequately screen a candidate might result in catastrophic events that could make your company, or the company you work for, legally and financially liable for any damages your new staff member causes to others, be it out of negligence, or malice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When looking to get a background check from the police or other government channels, a few simple steps are required.<\/p>\n FCRA compliance extends to all background checks Texas has to offer.<\/span><\/p>\n In adherence to the FCRA guidelines when running a background search in Texas on one of your prospective applicants, they have the right to:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you wish to learn more about the FCRA, you can do so <\/span>here<\/span>.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no denying that running a background check in Texas on every candidate that applies to a job opening can be costly and undesirable, especially, since only one of them will fill the position. In other words it might feel like whatever expenses your company incurred to screen others not hired will have gone to waste.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Can there be a solution to this problem? Is it possible to run free background checks in Texas?<\/span><\/p>\n The short answer is, yes; however, due diligence is required when considering this option, since, as you probably guessed, these gratuitous service providers will only search through public records by using automated systems that will, more often than not, miss many possible hits on a prospective applicant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In Texas, background checks that include only public records are easy to pull. The DPS and the Texas court system handles these records and you can even request a check by going through their approved processes.<\/span><\/p>\n However, these will <\/span>not <\/span><\/i>include anything outside of public record, such as those that are stored within the CCH.<\/span><\/p>\n These \u201cfree background checks\u201d are often not FCRA compliant either, which can lead you in a world of hurt if it\u2019s ever found out that you used it during a routine audit which is common during unemployment claims.<\/span><\/p>\n Therefore, it\u2019s very important to afford the small fee when doing research on the candidates for a job opening. Consider how much time and effort it takes to train someone, then consider how cheap a background check is compared to that. It just doesn\u2019t make sense to cut corners.<\/span><\/p>\n Some additional reasons to avoid free background checks are:<\/span><\/p>\n Now that you know free background checks are not the greatest option, you\u2019ll be glad to learn that paid alternatives are not that expensive!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Texas Department of Public Safety will charge you $15 per applicant for a fingerprint-based search on their databases. Moreover, if you\u2019re looking for a deeper investigation (and you have a state request to conduct one), the FBI will also provide this service for around $13.25.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are also some private background check services that offer plans starting as low as $10 per process and can show even more information in different categories; however, it\u2019s best to stick to those offered by government authorities first and use other providers as a complimentary check.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In order to provide everyone with fair employment opportunities, when running a background check in Texas, employers may only consider arrests, criminal charges or indictments that are less than seven years old when making hiring decisions regarding an applicant; however, there may be some exceptions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If a position pays $75,000 or more per year, or if the job a candidate is applying for involves interaction with vulnerable groups such as children or elderly people, employers may consider any criminal offenses dating all the way back to the applicant\u2019s 18th birthday to guarantee the safety of those under their care.<\/span><\/p>\n Lastly, it\u2019s key to note that courts in Texas typically close off the records of those under the age of 18. Meaning, any criminal issues that may have occurred during minor years will not show up.<\/span><\/p>\n Keep in mind that an FBI background check\u00a0can\u00a0<\/em>include expunged or closed records, but will take longer than a standard level 2 Texas background check\u2013even though both require fingerprints.<\/p>\n Innocent until proven guilty, right? When running a background check in Texas, one of the most important things to remember is that, as an employer, you may not take into consideration an applicant\u2019s previous arrests or pleas of no contest if they did not result in a conviction. Using these to make a hiring decision goes against the state\u2019s laws and regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n A common question then arises: how long does a background check take in Texas?<\/p>\n A background check in Texas (or anywhere else in the U.S. for that matter), should take no more than 3-10 business days to complete and be handed over to you. A level 1 background check may even come back instantly or within 24 hours.<\/span><\/p>\n Normally, even if there are criminal record hits on a candidate\u2019s report, this document should be issued within that timeframe; however, there may be cases in which this process could take a little longer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If, for whatever reason, an applicant\u2019s criminal history or any other aspects included in the report require further examination, there can be some delays. One example is using a third-party service that sends people in person to physical courts to inquire for the most up-to-date physical copies of a person\u2019s background check.<\/span><\/p>\n Should a candidate\u2019s background check involve the FBI, the results could take up to 30 business days to be released.<\/span><\/p>\n Some cities and counties like Austin, Dallas, DeSoto, Travis, and San Antonio have implemented ban the box laws<\/span> that apply when running a background check in Texas. As you may know, the \u201cban the box\u201d initiative is a campaign that started in 2003 which aims to give every citizen applying for a job a fair chance. Through this campaign, employers within the applicable area of jurisdiction are forbidden to ask about an applicant\u2019s criminal background on their job application.<\/span><\/p>\n Does this mean you have to hire anyone without knowing their criminal background? Not quite. Ban the box laws in Texas require employers to extend a conditional job offer to an applicant <\/span>before<\/span><\/i> asking about their criminal history; the law hopes to allow them to have a chance to prove their worth instead of being automatically disqualified.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The key word here is \u201cconditional.\u201d Your job offer depends on the outcome of the background check you conduct on your applicant, should it be negative, you\u2019re entitled to refuse employment under certain conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n As opposed to many other states, you\u2019re not required to pass a background check in Texas before purchasing a firearm. After a bill signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, Texans are allowed to carry holstered handguns with no special licenses or permits; however, this does not mean that there are no safety measures still implemented..\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While you\u2019re no longer obligated to be screened by a private gun vendor, establishments with a Federal Firearms License (FFL), are still required by the ATF to run a buyer\u2019s information through the NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) prior to selling them any kind of firearm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This process is quite simple and quick, since you only need to fill out an ATF form with your information, hand it over to the store clerk, and have them run it through the system, which will return a result in less than 60 seconds. Licensed firearm vendors can execute this process either by phone, or online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Running background checks in Texas is essential to guarantee your company\u2019s safety and longevity. Screening candidates can be daunting and complicated, especially considering the state\u2019s ever-changing laws and regulations; nonetheless, the consequences of not performing one on your applicants are much greater than the inconvenience this process may cause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Save yourself some trouble and take the time to research your candidates before making a hiring decision that could hinder your company. Make sure to stick to the FCRA, and EEOC background check guidelines throughout the entire screening process, and spare no expense on the services you choose. <\/span>Remember, compliance is key for a background check (texas)<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Your company is growing, and you suddenly find yourself in need of new talent and need to run a background check texas style.\u00a0You\u2019ve found a wide selection of promising candidates and conducted all the initial interviews, so the next logical step is to do some research on them to make sure they\u2019re safe hires that<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nBackground Check: Texas State Rules<\/h2>\n
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Reasons for Running a Background Check in Texas<\/h2>\n
How to Get a Background Check (Texas) Legally<\/h2>\n
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FCRA Compliance<\/h2>\n
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Free Background Check (Texas): Is It Possible?<\/h2>\n
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How Much Does a Background Check in Texas Cost?<\/h2>\n
Criminal Background Check: Texas Includes Only the Past 7 Years<\/h2>\n
Background Check: Texas Doesn\u2019t Include Arrests Without a Conviction<\/h2>\n
How Long Does a Texas Background Check Take?<\/h2>\n
State of Texas Background Checks Do Not Restrict Ban the Box Laws<\/h2>\n
Texas Firearm Background Check: Online Process<\/h2>\n
Closing Reminders<\/h2>\n