By Deshotel, et al.                                   H.B. No. 1353
         76R4860 DLF-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 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.