By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 247
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the confidentiality of information held by governmental
1-3 bodies that identifies certain personal information about peace
1-4 officers.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 552.024, Government Code, is amended by
1-7 adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
1-8 (f) This section does not apply to a person who is a peace
1-9 officer to whom Section 552.1175 applies.
1-10 SECTION 2. Section 552.117, Government Code, is amended to
1-11 read as follows:
1-12 Sec. 552.117. EXCEPTION: CERTAIN ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE
1-13 NUMBERS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, AND PERSONAL FAMILY INFORMATION.
1-14 Information is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if
1-15 it is information that relates to the home address, home telephone
1-16 number, or social security number of the following person[,] or
1-17 that reveals whether the [following] person has family members:
1-18 (1) a current or former official or employee of a
1-19 governmental body, except as otherwise provided by Section 552.024;
1-20 (2) [a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code
1-21 of Criminal Procedure, or] a security officer commissioned under
1-22 Section 51.212, Education Code, regardless of whether the officer
1-23 complies with Section 552.024;
1-24 (3) an employee of the Texas Department of Criminal
1-25 Justice, regardless of whether the employee complies with Section
2-1 552.024; or
2-2 (4) a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code
2-3 of Criminal Procedure, or other law, a reserve law enforcement
2-4 officer, a commissioned deputy game warden, or a corrections
2-5 officer in a municipal, county, or state penal institution in this
2-6 state who was killed in the line of duty, regardless of whether the
2-7 deceased complied with Section 552.024.
2-8 SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is
2-9 amended by adding Section 552.1175 to read as follows:
2-10 Sec. 552.1175. CONFIDENTIALITY OF ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE
2-11 NUMBERS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, AND PERSONAL FAMILY INFORMATION
2-12 OF PEACE OFFICERS. (a) Information that relates to the home
2-13 address, home telephone number, or social security number of a
2-14 peace officer, as defined by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal
2-15 Procedure, or that reveals whether the peace officer has family
2-16 members is confidential and may not be disclosed to the public
2-17 under this chapter if the peace officer:
2-18 (1) chooses to restrict public access to the
2-19 information; and
2-20 (2) notifies the governmental body of the officer's
2-21 choice on a form provided by the governmental body, accompanied by
2-22 evidence of the officer's status.
2-23 (b) A choice made under Subsection (a) remains valid until
2-24 rescinded in writing by the peace officer.
2-25 (c) This section does not apply to information in the tax
2-26 appraisal records of an appraisal district to which Section 25.025,
3-1 Tax Code, applies.
3-2 SECTION 4. Chapter 25, Tax Code, is amended by adding
3-3 Section 25.025 to read as follows:
3-4 Sec. 25.025. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN HOME ADDRESS
3-5 INFORMATION. (a) Information in appraisal records under Section
3-6 25.02 is confidential and is available only for the official use of
3-7 the appraisal district, this state, the comptroller, and taxing
3-8 units and political subdivisions of this state if:
3-9 (1) the information identifies the home address of a
3-10 named individual who is a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12,
3-11 Code of Criminal Procedure; and
3-12 (2) the peace officer chooses to restrict public
3-13 access to the information on the form prescribed for that purpose
3-14 by the comptroller under Section 5.07.
3-15 (b) A choice made under Subsection (a) remains valid until
3-16 rescinded in writing by the peace officer.
3-17 (c) This section does not prohibit the public disclosure of
3-18 information in appraisal records that identifies property according
3-19 to an address if the information does not identify a peace officer
3-20 who has made an election under Subsection (b) in connection with
3-21 the officer's address.
3-22 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.