SEMARC Reaches Major Milestone Following Go Live, Strengthening Statewide Safeguards for Vulnerable Texans
AUSTIN, Texas — April 1, 2026 — The Search Engine for Multi‑Agency Reportable Conduct (SEMARC) has reached a significant operational milestone, marking an important step forward in Texas’ efforts to protect vulnerable populations through improved transparency and interagency coordination.
As of April 1, authorized users at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department have successfully begun submitting reportable conduct check requests directly through SEMARC. These checks apply to individuals seeking to work for, volunteer with, or contract with TJJD, juvenile probation departments, and juvenile facilities statewide. This milestone marks the first phase of SEMARC’s multi‑agency rollout and demonstrates the system’s readiness to support high‑volume, cross‑agency screening activity.
Building a Stronger Texas
By linking multiple reportable conduct registries into a single statewide platform, SEMARC increases transparency, consistency, and accountability across agencies. This centralized approach enhances Texas’ ability to identify patterns of misconduct and prevent individuals with a harmful history from moving between systems undetected. SEMARC represents a major advancement in Texas’ commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities. This milestone reflects not only technological progress, but also the strength of collaboration across agencies that share a mission to safeguard the public.
Additional agencies will continue joining SEMARC through phased implementation in the coming months.
History of SEMARC
Created in response to Senate Bill 1849 of the 88th Legislative Session, SEMARC is a centralized search engine designed to streamline background checks for reportable conduct — including abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other misconduct — across multiple Texas agencies. The platform supports critical decision‑making related to employment, volunteer service, licensing, contracting, and certification.
Developed in partnership by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Texas Education Agency (TEA), and Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), SEMARC integrates each agency’s reportable conduct registries into a single, secure system. This collaboration helps ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of misconduct in one system cannot gain access to vulnerable populations elsewhere.
Contact:
Marissa Gonzales
marissa.gonzales@dfps.texas.gov
(817) 312-4144
