SRC-AMY, TJG S.B. 85 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 85 78R1356 JRD-DBy: Wentworth Veteran Affairs & Military Installations 3/7/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the armed services encourage veterans to file their DD-214, the military discharge document, with their local county clerk. This allows the clerk to furnish a certified copy of the record to the veteran, the veteran's guardian, or the veteran's heirs. The DD-214 contains the veteran's social security number and is considered public record, which, paired with the rise in identity theft, concerns veterans. As proposed, S.B. 85 exempts DD-214 forms from disclosure under the Public Information Act, permitting the release of the record only to the veteran or the veteran's survivor. 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 Chapter 552C, Government Code, by adding Section 552.140, as follows: Sec. 552.140. MILITARY DISCHARGE RECORDS. (a) Provides that a military veteran's Department of Defense Form DD-214 or other military discharge record that has been recorded with or that is otherwise in the possession of a governmental body is excepted from required public disclosure. (b) Authorizes a governmental body to release the form or other military discharge record only to certain persons and under certain circumstances. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.