|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the confidentiality of information pertaining to |
|
certain biological agents and toxins. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 552.151 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 552.151. EXCEPTION: INFORMATION REGARDING SELECT |
|
AGENTS. Information that pertains to a biological agent or toxin |
|
identified or listed as a select agent under federal law, including |
|
under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and |
|
Response Act of 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107-188) and regulations adopted |
|
under that Act, is confidential and excepted from the requirements |
|
of Section 552.021, including information pertaining to: |
|
(1) the location of a select agent; |
|
(2) security and safeguard protections; |
|
(3) site-specific or transfer-specific documentation; |
|
or |
|
(4) the identity of an individual authorized to |
|
possess, use, or access a select agent. |
|
SECTION 2. Section 552.151, Government Code, as added by |
|
this Act, applies in relation to: |
|
(1) a request for public information under Chapter |
|
552, Government Code, made before, on, or after the effective date |
|
of this Act; and |
|
(2) information that on the effective date of this Act |
|
has not yet been disclosed that: |
|
(A) was the subject of a request for information |
|
made before the effective date of this Act; and |
|
(B) the attorney general determined before the |
|
effective date of this Act to be subject to disclosure under Chapter |
|
552, Government Code. |
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |