A New Statewide Screening Tool
By TJJD Communications —
On April 1, 2026, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) became the first agency in Texas to begin using the Search Engine for Multi-Agency Reportable Conduct (SEMARC), a new statewide system designed to strengthen protections for youth and vulnerable populations.
SEMARC allows authorized staff across the state and county levels to search multiple state misconduct registries at one time, including records maintained by TJJD, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The system was developed to help identify individuals with substantiated findings involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other serious misconduct before they are placed in positions that provide access to children or vulnerable individuals.
The launch of SEMARC represents a major advancement in statewide screening practices and interagency collaboration. By combining information from multiple agencies into one search platform, the system helps prevent individuals with serious misconduct histories from moving between agencies or professions without detection.
Who the Process Applies To
Within the juvenile justice system, the SEMARC screening process is being used statewide by TJJD and County Juvenile Services Offices and applies to the review of all:
- Employees
- Volunteers
- Contractors
- And any personnel that work with juveniles
Checks are conducted prior to selection and repeated every two years during the individual’s birth month. Existing personnel employed as of April 1, 2026, will complete the screening process between April 2026 and March 2027 during their birth month.
The Process and The Impact
The SEMARC search is conducted during the typical background check process to determine whether an individual appears in one of the participating agency’s registries. If a match is identified, additional review steps may be required depending on the agency associated with the finding.
Searches and reviews are initiated and coordinated by staff on the state and county levels, including recruiters, human resources staff, volunteer coordinators, and other designated individuals. Requests for review will continue to be submitted through the agency’s background review process.
This new process creates a more consistent and centralized approach to background screening while also strengthening communication and coordination among partner agencies statewide. Most importantly, SEMARC enhances our ability to protect youth by improving the state’s ability to identify substantiated misconduct findings before individuals gain access to facilities, programs, or youth records.