SRC-MSY, AMY S.B. 174 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 174 78R2003 JD-DBy: Nelson State Affairs 3/24/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Current Texas law makes marriage license applications open records freely available to the public, including such personal information as an applicant's name, Social Security number, and address. As proposed, S.B. 174 allows applicants to request that their personal information remain confidential, and provides that access to the information shall be accordingly restricted if such a request is made. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Health in SECTION 1 (Section 552.141, Government Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 552C, Government Code, by adding Section 552.141, as follows: Sec. 552.141. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION IN APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE. (a) Establishes as confidential the information furnished on a marriage license application, and maintained by the county clerk, if the person to whom the information relates fills out a form requesting the restriction of the information. Prohibits the county clerk from disclosing such information. (b) Specifies that the restriction remains valid unless rescinded in writing by the person. (c) Grants rulemaking authority to the State Board of Health (board) to determine the form's content. Authorizes the board to require the form to be included with marriage license application forms. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1,2003