80R7599 CAE-F

By: Ellis, Duncan S.B. No. 966

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a qualified privilege of a journalist not to testify.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 22, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Subchapter C to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER C. JOURNALIST'S QUALIFIED TESTIMONIAL PRIVILEGE

Sec. 22.021. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Communication service provider" means a person or the parent, subsidiary, division, or affiliate of a person who transmits information chosen by a customer by electronic means, including:

(A) a telecommunications carrier, as defined by Section 3, Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. Section 153);

(B) a provider of information service, as defined by Section 3, Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. Section 153);

(C) a provider of interactive computer service, as defined by Section 230, Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. Section 230); and

(D) an information content provider, as defined by Section 230, Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. Section 230).

(2) "Journalist" means a person who for financial gain, for a substantial portion of the person's livelihood, or for subscription purposes gathers, compiles, prepares, collects, photographs, records, writes, edits, reports, investigates, processes, or publishes news or information that is disseminated by a news medium or communication service provider and includes:

(A) a person who supervises or assists in gathering, preparing, and disseminating the news or information;

(B) a person who is or has been a journalist, scholar, or researcher employed by an institution of higher education; or

(C) a person who is on a professional track to earn a significant portion of the person's livelihood by obtaining or preparing information for dissemination by a news medium or an agent, assistant, employee, or supervisor of that person.

(3) "News medium" means a newspaper, magazine or periodical, book publisher, news agency, wire service, radio or television station or network, cable, satellite, or other transmission system or carrier or channel, or a channel or programming service for a station, network, system, or carrier, or an audio or audiovisual production company or Internet company or provider, or the parent, subsidiary, division, or affiliate of that entity, that disseminates news or information to the public by any means, including:

(A) print;

(B) television;

(C) radio;

(D) photographic;

(E) mechanical;

(F) electronic; and

(G) other means, known or unknown, that are accessible to the public.

(4) "Official proceeding" means any type of administrative, executive, legislative, or judicial proceeding that may be conducted before a public servant.

(5) "Public servant" means a person elected, selected, appointed, employed, or otherwise designated as one of the following, even if the person has not yet qualified for office or assumed the person's duties:

(A) an officer, employee, or agent of government;

(B) a juror or grand juror;

(C) an arbitrator, referee, or other person who is authorized by law or private written agreement to hear or determine a cause or controversy;

(D) an attorney or notary public when participating in the performance of a governmental function; or

(E) a person who is performing a governmental function under a claim of right, although the person is not legally qualified to do so.

Sec. 22.022. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to increase the free flow of information and preserve a free and active press and, at the same time, protect the right of the public to effective law enforcement and the fair administration of justice.

Sec. 22.023. PRIVILEGE. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, a judicial, legislative, administrative, or other body with the authority to issue a subpoena or other compulsory process may not compel a journalist to testify, produce, or disclose in an official proceeding:

(1) any confidential or nonconfidential information, document, or item obtained or prepared while acting as a journalist; or

(2) the source of any information, document, or item described by Subdivision (1).

(b) A subpoena or other compulsory process may not compel the parent, subsidiary, division, or affiliate of a communication service provider or news medium to disclose the identity of a source of news or information or information, documents, or items that are privileged from disclosure under Subsection (a).

Sec. 22.024. LIMITED DISCLOSURE: DISCLOSURE OTHER THAN AS CRIMINAL WITNESS. After notice and an opportunity to be heard, a court may compel a journalist, a journalist's employer, or a person with an independent contract with a journalist to disclose any information, document, or item obtained while acting as a journalist, other than as described by Section 22.025, if the person seeking the information, document, or item establishes by clear and convincing evidence that:

(1) all reasonable efforts have been exhausted to obtain the information from an alternative source;

(2) to the extent possible, the subpoena or compulsory process does not require the production of a large volume of unpublished material and is limited to the verification of published information and the surrounding circumstances relating to the accuracy of the published information;

(3) reasonable and timely notice was given of the demand for the information, document, or item;

(4) nondisclosure would be contrary to public interest;

(5) the subpoena or compulsory process is not being used to obtain peripheral, nonessential, or speculative information; and

(6) the information, document, or item:

(A) is relevant and material to the proper administration of the official proceeding for which the testimony or production is sought and is essential to the maintenance of a claim or defense of the person seeking the testimony or production; or

(B) is central to the investigation or prosecution of a criminal case regarding the establishment of guilt or innocence and, based on an independent source, reasonable grounds exist to believe that a crime has occurred.

Sec. 22.025. LIMITED DISCLOSURE: CRIMINAL WITNESS. (a) A journalist may be compelled to disclose any information, document, or item obtained while acting as a journalist if the person seeking the testimony or production establishes that the information, document, or item, including any physical evidence or visual or audio recording of the observed conduct:

(1) was obtained as the result of an eyewitness observation of criminal conduct or commitment of criminal conduct by the journalist and a court determines by clear and convincing evidence that the person requesting the disclosure has exhausted reasonable efforts to obtain the information, document, or item from alternative sources; or

(2) is reasonably necessary to stop or prevent reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm.

(b) This section does not apply if the alleged criminal conduct is the act of communicating, receiving, or possessing the information, document, or item.

Sec. 22.026. NOTICE. An order to compel testimony or production to which a journalist has asserted a privilege under this subchapter may be issued only after timely notice to the journalist, the journalist's employer, or a person who has an independent contract with a journalist and a hearing. The order must include clear and specific findings as to the showing made by the person seeking the testimony or production and the clear and convincing evidence on which the court relied in issuing the court's order.

Sec. 22.027. PUBLICATION OF PRIVILEGED INFORMATION. Publication or dissemination by a news medium or communication service provider of information, documents, or items privileged under this subchapter is not a waiver of the journalist's privilege.

Sec. 22.028. SOURCE NOT ADMISSIBLE. The source of any news or information or any news or information obtained in violation of this subchapter is not admissible in any action, proceeding, or hearing before a judicial, legislative, administrative, or other body.

SECTION 2. Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 38.11 to read as follows:

Art. 38.11. JOURNALIST'S TESTIMONIAL PRIVILEGE. Subchapter C, Chapter 22, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, applies to a criminal proceeding.

SECTION 3. This Act applies only to information, documents, or items obtained or prepared for publication in a news medium or communication service provider on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.