H.B. 3062 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 3062
By: Mabry
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

According to Chapter 51 of the Human Resources Code, the Texas Department
of Human Services (DHS) is not required to disclose information collected
through reports, collected case data or inspections that would identify a
particular center or a person working at or receiving services at a family
violence center or special project.  The current language has caused a
problem for DHS, because DHS gets information from sources other than
those identified in the statute, such as complaint information.  Most
recently,  the Texas Attorney General ruled that DHS must release center
information because the information was not obtained through the defined
exemptions in statute. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3062 amends the Human Resources Code to prohibit the Department
of Human Services from disclosing any information that would identify a
particular family violence center location, a board member of a family
violence center or a family violence special project, or a person working
at or receiving services through a family violence center or family
violence special project. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage if the Act receives the necessary vote, or if the Act does not
receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.