BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 617

By: Blanco

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recognizing that law enforcement officers and their families may be targeted by the very criminals from whom they protect the public, state law offers confidentiality protections for home address information in appraisal district records to many categories of officers. However, despite the fact that they face well-organized, violent criminal gangs, federal customs and border protection officers and border patrol agents living in and protecting our communities are not covered by these protections. S.B. 617 seeks to remedy this situation and extend the confidentiality protections to these individuals.

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

S.B. 617 amends the Tax Code to extend confidentiality protections of certain home address information in local property tax appraisal records to a customs and border protection officer or border patrol agent of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.