SGN H.B. 2828 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


CORRECTIONS
H.B. 2828
By: Place
4-2-97
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND
 
Prior to September 1995, the home address, telephone number and social
security number of Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) employees
was treated as confidential, in the same manner as the home address,
telephone number and social security number of peace officers is treated
as confidential. However, under current law, TDCJ employees must request
this information be held confidential within 14 days of employment,
otherwise confidentiality is waived. 

PURPOSE

In light of the nature of their work, additional precautions should be
taken to protect the confidentiality of TDCJ employees, just as additional
precautions are taken to protect the confidentiality of law enforcement
officials. HB 2828, if enacted, will restore the presumption that personal
information regarding TDCJ employees is confidential.  

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.   Amends Section 552.117(2) and (3), Government Code to allow
for confidentiality of personal information about peace officers and TDCJ
employees regardless of whether the officer has requested such
confidentiality. 

SECTION 2.  States that any previous action taken by TDCJ to keep employee
records confidential is not declared invalid by this Act. 

SECTION 3.   Emergency clause.