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(b) Specifies that the restriction remains valid unless rescinded in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