By Goodman                                            H.B. No. 2428
         77R7450 JMM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the confidentiality of certain records of a
 1-3     court-appointed volunteer advocate program.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Section 264.613 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 264.613.  USE OF INFORMATION AND RECORDS;
 1-8     CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) The files, reports, records, communications,
 1-9     and working papers used or developed in providing services under
1-10     this subchapter are confidential and not subject to disclosure
1-11     under Chapter 552, Government Code, and may only be disclosed for
1-12     purposes consistent with this subchapter.
1-13           (b)  Information described by Subsection (a)  may be
1-14     disclosed to:
1-15                 (1)  the department, department employees, law
1-16     enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorneys, medical professionals,
1-17     and other state agencies that provide services to children and
1-18     families;
1-19                 (2)  the attorney for the child who is the subject of
1-20     the information; and
1-21                 (3)  eligible children's advocacy centers.
1-22           (c)  Information related to the investigation of a report of
1-23     abuse or neglect of a child under Chapter 261 and services provided
1-24     as a result of the investigation are confidential as provided by
 2-1     Section 261.201.
 2-2           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-3     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-4     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-5     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-6     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.