1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the confidentiality of certain information held by
1-3 governmental bodies.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 552.024, Government Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
1-7 (f) This section does not apply to a person to whom Section
1-8 552.1175 applies.
1-9 SECTION 2. Section 552.117, Government Code, is amended to
1-10 read as follows:
1-11 Sec. 552.117. EXCEPTION: CERTAIN ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE
1-12 NUMBERS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, AND PERSONAL FAMILY INFORMATION.
1-13 Information is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if
1-14 it is information that relates to the home address, home telephone
1-15 number, or social security number of the following person[,] or
1-16 that reveals whether the [following] person has family members:
1-17 (1) a current or former official or employee of a
1-18 governmental body, except as otherwise provided by Section 552.024;
1-19 (2) a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code
1-20 of Criminal Procedure, or a security officer commissioned under
1-21 Section 51.212, Education Code, regardless of whether the officer
1-22 complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175, as applicable;
1-23 (3) an employee of the Texas Department of Criminal
1-24 Justice, regardless of whether the employee complies with Section
1-25 552.1175 [552.024]; [or]
2-1 (4) a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code
2-2 of Criminal Procedure, or other law, a reserve law enforcement
2-3 officer, a commissioned deputy game warden, or a corrections
2-4 officer in a municipal, county, or state penal institution in this
2-5 state who was killed in the line of duty, regardless of whether the
2-6 deceased complied with Section 552.024 or 552.1175; or
2-7 (5) a commissioned security officer as defined by
2-8 Section 1702.002, Occupations Code, regardless of whether the
2-9 officer complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175, as applicable.
2-10 SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is
2-11 amended by adding Section 552.1175 to read as follows:
2-12 Sec. 552.1175. CONFIDENTIALITY OF ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE
2-13 NUMBERS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, AND PERSONAL FAMILY INFORMATION
2-14 OF PEACE OFFICERS, COUNTY JAILERS, SECURITY OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES
2-15 OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. (a) This section applies
2-16 only to:
2-17 (1) peace officers as defined by Article 2.12, Code of
2-18 Criminal Procedure;
2-19 (2) county jailers as defined by Section 1701.001,
2-20 Occupations Code;
2-21 (3) employees of the Texas Department of Criminal
2-22 Justice; and
2-23 (4) commissioned security officers as defined by
2-24 Section 1702.002, Occupations Code.
2-25 (b) Information that relates to the home address, home
2-26 telephone number, or social security number of an individual to
3-1 whom this section applies, or that reveals whether the individual
3-2 has family members is confidential and may not be disclosed to the
3-3 public under this chapter if the individual to whom the information
3-4 relates:
3-5 (1) chooses to restrict public access to the
3-6 information; and
3-7 (2) notifies the governmental body of the individual's
3-8 choice on a form provided by the governmental body, accompanied by
3-9 evidence of the individual's status.
3-10 (c) A choice made under Subsection (b) remains valid until
3-11 rescinded in writing by the individual.
3-12 (d) This section does not apply to information in the tax
3-13 appraisal records of an appraisal district to which Section 25.025,
3-14 Tax Code, applies.
3-15 SECTION 4. Chapter 25, Tax Code, is amended by adding
3-16 Section 25.025 to read as follows:
3-17 Sec. 25.025. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN HOME ADDRESS
3-18 INFORMATION. (a) This section applies only to:
3-19 (1) peace officers as defined by Article 2.12, Code of
3-20 Criminal Procedure;
3-21 (2) county jailers as defined by Section 1701.001,
3-22 Occupations Code;
3-23 (3) employees of the Texas Department of Criminal
3-24 Justice; and
3-25 (4) commissioned security officers as defined by
3-26 Section 1702.002, Occupations Code.
4-1 (b) Information in appraisal records under Section 25.02 is
4-2 confidential and is available only for the official use of the
4-3 appraisal district, this state, the comptroller, and taxing units
4-4 and political subdivisions of this state if:
4-5 (1) the information identifies the home address of a
4-6 named individual to whom this section applies; and
4-7 (2) the individual chooses to restrict public access
4-8 to the information on the form prescribed for that purpose by the
4-9 comptroller under Section 5.07.
4-10 (c) A choice made under Subsection (b) remains valid until
4-11 rescinded in writing by the individual.
4-12 (d) This section does not prohibit the public disclosure of
4-13 information in appraisal records that identifies property according
4-14 to an address if the information does not identify an individual
4-15 who has made an election under Subsection (b) in connection with
4-16 the individual's address.
4-17 SECTION 5. Chapter 25, Tax Code, is amended by adding
4-18 Section 25.026 to read as follows:
4-19 Sec. 25.026. CONFIDENTIALITY OF VIOLENCE SHELTER CENTER AND
4-20 SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM ADDRESS INFORMATION. (a) In this section:
4-21 (1) "Family violence shelter center" has the meaning
4-22 assigned by Section 51.002, Human Resources Code.
4-23 (2) "Sexual assault program" has the meaning assigned
4-24 by Section 420.003, Government Code.
4-25 (b) Information in appraisal records under Section 25.02 is
4-26 confidential and is available only for the official use of the
5-1 appraisal district, this state, the comptroller, and taxing units
5-2 and political subdivisions of this state if the information
5-3 identifies the address of a family violence shelter center or a
5-4 sexual assault program.
5-5 SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 247 passed the Senate on
March 15, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, one
present, not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House
amendments on May 2, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 247 passed the House, with
amendments, on April 26, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor