AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Peace officers in Texas sometimes provide personal protection for elected officials and members of an elected official's family.  Some courts have interpreted the Public Information Act to require disclosure of travel vouchers that include details such as where the officer and elected official spent the night and ate dinner.  The disclosure of these details could have adverse safety consequences.  S.B. 1923 amends the Public Information Act to ensure that certain travel vouchers submitted by peace officers assigned to a protective detail remain confidential.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1923 amends current law relating to providing that certain travel vouchers submitted by peace officers assigned to a protective detail are confidential.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 660, Government Code, by adding Section 660.2035, as follows:

 

Sec. 660.2035.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN PEACE OFFICER VOUCHERS.  (a) Provides that a voucher submitted or to be submitted under Section 660.027 (Vouchers) is confidential and is prohibited from being disclosed under Chapter 552 (Public Information) if:

 

(1)  the voucher is submitted or is to be submitted for payment or reimbursement of a travel expense incurred by a peace officer who is assigned to provide protection for an elected official of this state or a member of the elected official's family; and

 

(2)  the travel expense was incurred by the peace officer in providing protection for the elected official or family.

 

(b)  Requires a state agency that submits a voucher described by Subsection (a) to provide to a person, on request, a summary of the amounts paid or reimbursed by the comptroller of public accounts in response to the voucher and a summary of any goods and services acquired for which a travel expense is claimed under the voucher.

 

SECTION 2.  Provides that Section 660.2035, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies according to its terms in relation to travel vouchers that have not been released before the effective date of this Act.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.