1-1     By:  Wentworth                                         S.B. No. 839
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 21, 2001; February 22, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
 1-4     March 26, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7,
 1-5     Nays 0; March 26, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to excepting from required disclosure under the public
 1-9     information law information that identifies the location of a
1-10     cave.
1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is
1-13     amended by adding Section 552.137 to read as follows:
1-14           Sec. 552.137.  EXCEPTION:  INFORMATION RELATING TO LOCATION
1-15     OF CAVES.  (a)  In this section, "cave" and "owner" have the
1-16     meanings assigned by Section 201.002, Natural Resources Code.
1-17           (b)  Information is excepted from the requirements of Section
1-18     552.021 if it is information that identifies the location of a cave
1-19     in this state.  This subsection does not apply to a cave that is
1-20     regularly open to the public on the payment of an admission charge.
1-21           (c)  Information excepted from disclosure under Subsection
1-22     (b) may be disclosed if the owner consents to the disclosure.  An
1-23     owner consenting to the disclosure of excepted information may
1-24     restrict the manner of disclosure and the person or persons to whom
1-25     the disclosure may be made.
1-26           (d)  For purposes of Subsection (c), if this state is the
1-27     owner, consent to disclosure of information excepted from
1-28     disclosure must be in writing and made by:
1-29                 (1)  the Commissioner of the General Land Office or the
1-30     commissioner's designee; or
1-31                 (2)  the executive head of the agency of this state
1-32     that owns title to the land on which the cave is located or that
1-33     person's designee.
1-34           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-35                                  * * * * *