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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the confidentiality of certain information received or |
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maintained by the Veterans' Land Board. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 161, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 161.080 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.080. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a) |
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This section applies only to: |
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(1) a veteran or a family member of the veteran who |
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applies for or receives any benefits or services offered by the |
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board; or |
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(2) a current member of: |
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(A) the armed forces of the United States, |
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including a reserve component; or |
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(B) the Texas military forces, as that term is |
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defined by Section 437.001, Government Code. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the following |
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information received or maintained by the board that relates to a |
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person to whom this section applies is confidential and not subject |
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to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code: |
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(1) name; |
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(2) home address; |
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(3) telephone number; |
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(4) e-mail address; |
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(5) emergency contact information; |
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(6) social security number; or |
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(7) any other information that reveals whether the |
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person has family members. |
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(c) The board may disclose the information described by |
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Subsection (b) to: |
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(1) a federal agency, state agency, political |
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subdivision of this state, or private vendor contracted by the |
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board for the purpose of administering any benefits or services |
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offered by the board for veterans or the family members of veterans; |
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or |
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(2) any person with the written consent of a person to |
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whom this section applies if: |
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(A) the information is disclosed for the purpose |
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specified in the written consent; and |
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(B) the disclosed information relates to the |
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consenting person. |
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(d) Information disclosed under Subsection (c) is not |
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subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, and the |
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disclosure does not constitute a voluntary disclosure to the public |
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by the board for purposes of Section 552.007, Government Code. |
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(e) To the extent of any conflict between this section and |
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Section 552.137, Government Code, this section prevails. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |