78R2003 JD-D

By:  Nelson                                                       S.B. No. 174



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the confidentiality of information in an application 
for a marriage license.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 552.141 to read as follows:
	Sec. 552.141.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION IN 
APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE.  (a) Information that is 
maintained by a county clerk and that is on an application for a 
marriage license, including information in an application on behalf 
of an absent applicant and the affidavit of an absent applicant, or 
is on a document submitted with an application for a marriage 
license is confidential and may not be disclosed by the county clerk 
to the public under this chapter if the individual to whom the 
information relates:
		(1)  chooses to restrict public access to the 
information;  and      
		(2)  notifies the county clerk of the individual's 
choice on a form to be provided by the county clerk at the time the 
county clerk furnishes the application for the marriage license.
	(b)  A choice made under Subsection (a) remains valid until 
rescinded in writing by the individual.
	(c)  The State Board of Health, by rule, shall prescribe the 
content of the form to be provided with a marriage license 
application by a county clerk under Subsection (a)(2).  The board 
may require the form to be included on marriage license application 
forms furnished by the bureau of vital statistics of the Texas 
Department of Health to county clerks in this state.
	SECTION 2.  Section 552.141, Government Code, as added by 
this Act, applies only to an application for a marriage license that 
is filed on or after September 1, 2003.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.