SRC-MKV, SEW S.B. 247 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 247 By: Shapleigh State Affairs 6/11/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, governmental agencies are authorized to release the personal information of peace officesr, a county jailers, employees of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and commissioned security officers for which an agency receives an "open records" request under certain conditions. S.B. 247 prohibits state and local governmental agencies, such as a tax appraisal district, from releasing such personal information. This bill also provides that a governmental body that receives a confidentiality request in writing from certain individuals may not release appraisal record information to the public that contains the individual's name, home address, home telephone number, social security number, or whether that officer has family members. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 552.024, Government Code, by adding Subsection (f) to provide that this section does not apply to a person to whom Section 552.1175 applies. SECTION 2. Amends Section 552.117, Government Code, to provide that information is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 under certain conditions. SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 552C, Government Code, by adding Section 552.1175, as follows: Sec. 552.1175. CONFIDENTIALITY OF ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, AND PERSONAL FAMILY INFORMATION OF PEACE OFFICERS, COUNTY JAILERS, SECURITY OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. (a) Provides that this section applies only to certain persons. (b) Provides that information that relates to the home address, home telephone number, or social security number of an individual to whom this section applies, or that reveals whether the individual has family members is confidential and prohibits it from being disclosed to the public under this chapter if the individual to whom the information relates chooses to restrict public access to the information and notifies the governmental body of the individual's choice on a form provided by the governmental body, accompanied by evidence of the officer's status. (c) Provides that a choice made under Subsection (b) remains valid until rescinded in writing by the individual. (d) Provides that this section does not apply to information in the tax appraisal records of an appraisal district to which Section 25.025, Tax Code, applies. SECTION 4. Amends Chapter 25, Tax Code, by adding Section 25.025, as follows: Sec. 25.025. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN HOME ADDRESS INFORMATION. Provides that this section applies only to certain persons. Requires that information in appraisal records under Section 25.02 be confidential and available only under certain conditions for the official use of the appraisal district, this state, the comptroller, and taxing units and political subdivisions. Provides that a confidentiality choice remains valid until rescinded in writing by the individual. Provides that this section does not prohibit the public disclosure of information in appraisal records that identifies property according to an address if the information does not identify an individual who has made an election under this section in connection with the individual's address. SECTION 5. Amends Chapter 25, Tax Code, by adding Section 25.026, as follows: Sec. 25.026. CONFIDENTIALITY OF VIOLENCE SHELTER CENTER AND SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM ADDRESS INFORMATION. Defines "family violence shelter center" and "sexual assault program." Provides that information in appraisal records under Section 25.02 is confidential and available only for the official use of certain entities if the information identifies the address of a family violence shelter center or a sexual assault program. SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2001.