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.