78R6523 JRD-F
By: Hochberg H.B. No. 2032
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the confidentiality of e-mail addresses under the
public information law.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 552.137, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 552.137. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN E-MAIL ADDRESSES.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, an [An] e-mail
address of a member of the public that is provided for the purpose
of communicating electronically with a governmental body is
confidential and not subject to disclosure under this chapter.
(b) Confidential information described by this section that
relates to a member of the public may be disclosed if the member of
the public affirmatively consents to its release.
(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to an e-mail address:
(1) provided to a governmental body by a person who has
a contractual relationship with the governmental body or by the
contractor's agent;
(2) provided to a governmental body by a vendor who
seeks to contract with the governmental body or by the vendor's
agent;
(3) contained in a response to a request for bids or
proposals, contained in a response to similar invitations
soliciting offers or information relating to a potential contract,
or provided to a governmental body in the course of negotiating the
terms of a contract or potential contract; or
(4) provided to a governmental body on a letterhead,
coversheet, printed document, or other document made available to
the public.
(d) Subsection (a) does not prevent a governmental body from
disclosing an e-mail address for any reason to another governmental
body or to a federal agency.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.