HBA-CBW S.B. 15 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 15
By: Nelson
State Affairs
3/19/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, all information gathered by a governmental body must be made
available to the public on request unless otherwise excepted. Records of
family violence shelter centers and sexual assault programs are currently
not excepted from such public disclosure and are available on the request
of an individual. Without this exception, it is possible for the abusers to
get information about the clients, employees, volunteers, donors, and board
members of these centers and programs. Senate Bill 15 modifies the open
records law by exempting certain information regarding current and former
clients, employees, volunteers, board members, and donors of  family
violence shelter centers and sexual assault programs. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 15 amends the Government Code to except family violence shelter
centers (center) and sexual assault programs (program) from disclosing
certain public information.  The bill excepts information maintained by a
center or program pertaining to the home address, home telephone number, or
social security number of an employee or a volunteer worker of a center or
a program; the location or physical layout of a center; personal
information regarding a current or former client of a center or program;
the provision of services to a current or former client of a center or
program; personal information regarding a private donor to a center or
program; or personal information regarding  members of the board of
directors or the board of trustees of a center or program. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect  September 1, 2001.