BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, private residence data and deed records associated with most citizens in this state are available to the public via ad valorem tax appraisal records. Current law allows personal residence information to be kept confidential from the public for various categories of government employees who work in law enforcement-related fields, in order to protect them from potential harm. Forensic scientists and medical examiners at various levels of government testify in criminal trials, and often must provide incriminating evidence against a defendant. This can make them vulnerable to retaliation as a result of their testimony. Interested parties contend that forensic scientists and medical examiners should be included in the category of government employees whose personal residence information is kept confidential.
H.B. 2267 seeks to protect medical examiners and those who perform forensic analysis at any level of government by adding these professions to the list of those afforded confidentiality for their home address information.
H.B. 2267 amends current law relating to the confidentiality of certain home address information in ad valorem tax appraisal records.
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. Reenacts Section 25.025(a), Tax Code, as amended by Chapters 348 (H.B. 3307) and 953 (H.B. 1046), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, and amends it to provide that this section (Confidentiality of Certain Home Address Information) applies only to certain persons, including a medical examiner or person who performs forensic analysis or testing who is employed by this state or one or more political subdivisions of this state, and to make nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Provides that to the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over another Act of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.