1-1 By: Deshotel, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Bernsen) H.B. No. 1353 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1999; 1-3 May 10, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on State 1-4 Affairs; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to certain information used for emergency management and 1-9 disaster services. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Section 418.175 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 418.175. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. (a) 1-14 Information that relates to physically or mentally disabled 1-15 individuals or other medically fragile individuals and that is 1-16 maintained for purposes of emergency management or disaster 1-17 planning is confidential and excepted from required disclosure 1-18 under Chapter 552. 1-19 (b) This section applies to information in the possession of 1-20 any person, including: 1-21 (1) the state, an agency of the state, a political 1-22 subdivision, or an agency of a political subdivision; or 1-23 (2) an electric, telecommunications, gas, or water 1-24 utility. 1-25 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-28 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-29 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-30 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-31 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-32 * * * * *