SRC-SEW S.B. 247 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 247
77R382 JD-DBy: Shapleigh
State Affairs
2/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, governmental agencies are authorized to release the personal
information of a peace officer for which it receives an "open records"
request under certain conditions.  As proposed, S.B. 247 prohibits state
and local governmental agencies, such as a tax appraisal district, from
releasing personal information in appraisal records.  This bill also
provides that a governmental body that receives an "open records" request
in writing from a peace officer may not release appraisal record
information to the public that contains the peace officer'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 Chapter 25, Tax Code, by adding Section 25.025, as
follows: 

 Sec. 25.025.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN HOME ADDRESS INFORMATION.
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 remains
valid until rescinded in writing by the peace officer, security officer, or
employee.  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 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.