BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3688

By: Anderson

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the privacy of participants of eradication programs targeting invasive brush species such as the carrizo cane, which consumes water resources and harbors other devastating species like cattle fever ticks and cayenne ticks. Landowners seeking to eradicate these species are often met with many roadblocks relating to privacy concerns. H.B. 3688 seeks to address this issue by making identifying information of individuals participating in invasive species eradication programs confidential and exempt from disclosure under state public information law.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3688 amends the Agriculture Code to make information written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained by the State Soil and Water Conservation Board that would identify a landowner who participates in a board program to manage or eradicate an invasive species confidential and exempt from disclosure under state public information law. These confidentiality protections do not apply to the disclosure of the identity of a person who receives a direct payment of state money under a contract with the board to manage or eradicate an invasive species.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.