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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to access to records maintained by the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 261.201, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: |
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(i) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department, on |
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request and subject to department rule, shall provide to a public |
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requestor information concerning reported abuse or neglect that |
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would otherwise be confidential under this section if the |
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department has edited the information to protect the identity of |
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the person who made the report, the child who is the subject of the |
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report, and any other person whose life or safety may be endangered |
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by the disclosure. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 263, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 263.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 263.007. ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Notwithstanding any |
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other law, the department, on request and subject to department |
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rule, shall provide to a public requestor information concerning |
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services provided under this chapter that would otherwise be |
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confidential if the department has edited the information to |
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protect the identity of any person whose life or safety may be |
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endangered by the disclosure or whose privacy interest may be |
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violated by the disclosure. |
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SECTION 3. Section 264.408, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department, on |
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request and subject to department rule, shall provide to a public |
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requestor information concerning services provided under this |
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chapter that would otherwise be confidential under this section if |
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the department has edited the information to protect the identity |
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of any person whose life or safety may be endangered by the |
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disclosure or whose privacy interest may be violated by the |
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disclosure. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |