1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to certain information used for emergency management and 1-3 disaster services. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 418.175 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 418.175. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. (a) 1-8 Information that relates to physically or mentally disabled 1-9 individuals or other medically fragile individuals and that is 1-10 maintained for purposes of emergency management or disaster 1-11 planning is confidential and excepted from required disclosure 1-12 under Chapter 552. 1-13 (b) This section applies to information in the possession of 1-14 any person, including: 1-15 (1) the state, an agency of the state, a political 1-16 subdivision, or an agency of a political subdivision; or 1-17 (2) an electric, telecommunications, gas, or water 1-18 utility. 1-19 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-20 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-21 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-22 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-23 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-24 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-1 passage, and it is so enacted. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1353 was passed by the House on May 8, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1353 was passed by the Senate on May 26, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor