By: Farabee (Senate Sponsor - Hegar) H.B. No. 1237

(In the Senate - Received from the House March 26, 2007; March 29, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; April 25, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 25, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the confidentiality of certain information of a person licensed to practice law held by the State Bar of Texas.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 552.1176 to read as follows:

Sec. 552.1176. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION MAINTAINED BY STATE BAR. (a) Information that relates to the home address, home telephone number, electronic mail address, social security number, or date of birth of a person licensed to practice law in this state that is maintained under Chapter 81 is confidential and may not be disclosed to the public under this chapter if the person to whom the information relates:

(1) chooses to restrict public access to the information; and

(2) notifies the State Bar of Texas of the person's choice, in writing or electronically, on a form provided by the state bar.

(b) A choice made under Subsection (a) remains valid until rescinded in writing or electronically by the person.

(c) All documents filed with a county clerk and all documents filed with a district clerk are exempt from this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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