SGN S.B. 1544 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


CORRECTIONS
S.B. 1544
By: Ogden (Place)
5-7-97
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.  Currently, an employee of the TDCJ is required to
request within 14 days of employment that certain information be held
confidential or confidentiality will be waived.  In light of the nature of
their work, additional precautions should be taken to protect the
confidentiality of personal information of TDCJ employees, just as
additional precautions are taken to protect the confidentiality of law
enforcement officials' personal information. 

PURPOSE

S.B. 1544, 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.  Makes application of this Act prospective unless certain acts
are declared invalid. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.