Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1367 amends the Government Code to authorize the Texas Legislative Council to gather and analyze information relating to public education and other public services in order to conduct statistical and demographic research and produce reports. It requires state agencies to cooperate with the council in the gathering and sharing of information, the handling of confidential data, and the production of reports. Agencies must comply with council information requests to the maximum extent permitted by state or federal law. Council entitlement extends to data that is confidential under state or federal law, but shared data does not lose its confidential character, and the council may not release personally identifiable data to a legislator or any other person. The act extends to legislative agencies and committees the privilege, currently enjoyed by legislators, to receive a copy of information free of charge. An Election Code amendment entitles the council to receive voter turnout information free of charge from county and city custodians of such information. Amendments to the Tax Code entitle the council to receive free of charge requested information or data from appraisal records maintained electronically by an appraisal district. On receiving a written request, the district must provide the information or data as soon as practicable but not later than 30 days after the date the request is received.