BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 281

By: Nelson

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, prohibited the publication of federal and state judges' residential information in public records such as voter registration applications, voter rolls, and property appraisal records to protect such judges from retaliation from offenders whom they sentenced.  However, such a judge's spouse is not given the same protection under law.

S.B. 281 includes residence registration information for the spouse of a federal and state judge included in public records among the information that is confidential or that does not constitute public information under state law.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 281 amends the Election Code to extend provisions excepting home address information of certain federal judges and state judges from certain public records and related provisions to the spouses of such judges.  The bill extends this exception in provisions relating to additional voter registration information from certain federal and state judges, the recording and disclosure of certain information by a voter registrar, providing notice of federal judge or state judge status to a registrar, prohibition from including residence information on a suspense list, the form and contents of voter registration lists, and the availability of statewide computerized voter registration list information.

S.B. 281 reenacts and amends Section 25.025, Tax Code, as amended by Chapters 594 (H.B. 41), 621 (H.B. 455), and 851 (H.B. 1141), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, to include the spouse of a federal judge or state judge in the list of applicable entities whose home address information is confidential for purposes of local appraisal rolls.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.