SRC-AXB S.B. 744 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 744
76R5924  JD-DBy: Shapleigh
State Affairs
3/23/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, a governmental body is not required to provide public
information, such as voter registration applications containing home
addresses and social security numbers, to an individual who is
incarcerated.  However, the law governing this issue, Section 552.028(a),
Government Code, does not cover the legality of an incarcerated
individual's agent, a mother or friend for example, requesting information.
S.B. 744 clarifies that a government body is not required to provide
information to an incarcerated individual's agent. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 744 clarifies that a government body is neither required
to nor prohibited from disclosing certain information to the agent of an
incarcerated individual. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 552.028(a) and (b), Government Code, to exempt
a government body from compliance with an information request from an agent
of an incarcerated individual. Provides that Subsection (b), rather than
Subsection (a), does not prohibit a government body from disclosing
information to an entity described in Subsection (a)(1). 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.