BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1525

By: Blanco

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Due to the nature of child protective services and adult protective services cases, Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) attorneys can at times be subjected to harassment and threats. These threats can come from clients, parents whose children have been removed, or families of adults who have been removed or are subject to investigation for abuse, neglect and exploitation. Because of this, these attorneys need additional protection from the state. Accordingly, S.B. 1525 seeks to extend to current and former DFPS attorneys confidentiality protections for certain home address information in local property tax appraisal records.

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. 1525 amends the Tax Code to extend confidentiality protections for certain home address information in local property tax appraisal records to a current or former attorney for the Department of Family and Protective Services.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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