S.B. 174 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 174
By: Nelson
State Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current Texas law makes marriage license applications open to public
inspection, including such personal information as an applicant's name,
social security number, and address.  The availability of information
related to applicants' social security numbers put applicants at risk for
certain crimes, such as identity theft.  The purpose of Senate Bill 174 is
to make information related to an applicant's social security number
confidential and prohibit the county clerk from disclosing such
information, and to require the county clerk to redact such information
from an application upon receiving a request to make information in a
marriage license application available under Chapter 552, Government Code. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department,
institution, or agency. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 174 amends Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, by
adding Section 552.141 to make confidential information that relates to
the social security number of an individual on a marriage license
application, or a document submitted with the application, that is
maintained by the county clerk. 

The bill requires the county clerk, upon receiving a request to make
information in  a marriage license application available under Chapter
552, Government Code, to redact the portion of the application that
contains an individual's social security number and release the remainder
of the information in the application. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.  The Act applies only to an application for a marriage
license that is filed on or after September 1, 2003.