BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1632

By: Fletcher

Government Efficiency & Reform

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In order to protect the safety of certain officers and employees who serve the criminal justice system, as well as their families, from criminal cartels, prison gangs, and others who may wish to do those officers or employees harm, observers point to the importance of preventing such criminals from gaining access to any information that personally identifies those officers or employees. The proliferation of personal information available on the Internet can undermine efforts to protect the officers and employees and jeopardize their ability to protect their own families. Although recent legislation protects certain personal information for these officers and employees from public disclosure, concerned parties note that this legislation did not address the date of birth and that such an oversight leaves a gap in the efforts to protect the safety of the officers and employees. H.B. 1632 seeks to close that gap.

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

H.B. 1632 amends the Government Code to make confidential and exempt from disclosure under state public information law the date of birth of a peace officer, county jailer, security officer, or employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or a prosecutor's office if the individual to whom the information relates chooses to restrict public access to the information and notifies the governmental body of the individual's choice on a form provided by the governmental body, accompanied by evidence of the individual's status.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.