By Wentworth                                           S.B. No. 839
         77R7237 JD-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to excepting from required disclosure under the public
 1-3     information law information that identifies the location of a
 1-4     cave.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 552.137 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 552.137.  EXCEPTION:  INFORMATION RELATING TO LOCATION
 1-9     OF CAVES. (a)  In this section, "cave" and "owner" have the
1-10     meanings assigned by Section 201.002, Natural Resources Code.
1-11           (b)  Information is excepted from the requirements of Section
1-12     552.021 if it is information that identifies the location of a cave
1-13     in this state.  This subsection does not apply to a cave that is
1-14     regularly open to the public on the payment of an admission charge.
1-15           (c)  Information excepted from disclosure under Subsection
1-16     (b) may be disclosed if the owner consents to the disclosure.  An
1-17     owner consenting to the disclosure of excepted information may
1-18     restrict the manner of disclosure and the person or persons to whom
1-19     the disclosure may be made.
1-20           (d)  For purposes of Subsection (c), if this state is the
1-21     owner, consent to disclosure of information excepted from
1-22     disclosure must be in writing and made by:
1-23                 (1)  the commissioner of the general land office or the
1-24     commissioner's designee; or
 2-1                 (2)  the executive head of the agency of this state
 2-2     that owns title to the land on which the cave is located or that
 2-3     person's designee.
 2-4           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.