SRC-TJG H.B. 298 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 298
By: Miller (Nelson)
Natural Resources
5/5/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is
allowed to develop a policy for the release of information relating to
persons who hold a license issued by TPWD. H.B. 298 prohibits TPWD from
disclosing certain personal information about an individual to whom TPWD
has issued a license in the form of a mailing list. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 11.030, Parks and Wildlife Code, by amending
Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (c-1), as follows: 

(a) Prohibits certain personal information of a person who purchases
certain items from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) from
being disclosed except as authorized under this section or Section
12.0251. 

(c) Deletes existing text regarding policies relating to the sale of a
mailing list containing certain information. 

(c-1) Requires the policies adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Commission (commission) under Subsection (c) to prohibit the sale of a
mailing list that contains certain customer information that relates to a
person who does not hold a commercial license issued by TPWD.  Prohibits
policies adopted by the commission from being construed to restrict access
to certain customer information by a person who is entitled to receive the
information under this section or other applicable law.  Defines "mailing
list." 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.