By: Williams S.B. No. 1289

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain business entities engaged in the publication of mug shots and other information regarding the involvement of an individual in the criminal justice system; providing a civil penalty.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by adding Chapter 109 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 109. BUSINESS ENTITIES ENGAGED IN PUBLICATION OF CRIMINAL

RECORD INFORMATION

Sec. 109.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Criminal justice agency" has the meaning assigned by Section 411.082, Government Code.

(2) "Criminal record information" means information about a person's involvement in the criminal justice system. The term includes:

(A) a description or notation of any arrests, any formal criminal charges, and the dispositions of those criminal charges;

(B) a photograph of the person taken pursuant to an arrest or other involvement in the criminal justice system; and

(C) personal identifying information of a person displayed in conjunction with any other record of the person's involvement in the criminal justice system.

(3) "Personal identifying information" means information that alone or in conjunction with other information identifies a person, including a person's name, address, date of birth, photograph, and social security number or other government-issued identification number.

(4) "Publish" means to communicate or make information available to another person in writing or by means of telecommunications and includes communicating information on a computer bulletin board or similar system.

Sec. 109.002. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter applies to a business entity that:

(1) publishes criminal record information, including information:

(A) originally obtained pursuant to a request for public information under Chapter 552, Government Code; or

(B) purchased or otherwise obtained by the entity or an affiliated business entity from the Department of Public Safety under Subchapter F, Chapter 411, Government Code; and

(2) requires the payment of a fee or other consideration to remove, correct, or modify criminal record information.

Sec. 109.003. DUTY TO PUBLISH COMPLETE AND ACCURATE CRIMINAL RECORD INFORMATION. (a) A business entity must ensure that criminal record information the entity publishes is complete and accurate.

(b) For purposes of this chapter, criminal record information published by a business entity is considered:

(1) complete if the information reflects the notations of arrest and the filing and disposition of criminal charges, if applicable; and

(2) accurate if the information:

(A) reflects the most recent information received by the entity from the Department of Public Safety in accordance with Section 411.0851(b)(1)(B), Government Code; or

(B) was obtained by the entity from a law enforcement agency or criminal justice agency, including the Department of Public Safety, or any other governmental agency or entity within the 60-day period preceding the date of publication.

Sec. 109.004. DISPUTING COMPLETENESS OR ACCURACY OF INFORMATION. (a) A business entity shall clearly and conspicuously publish an e-mail address, fax number, or mailing address to enable a person who is the subject of criminal record information published by the entity to dispute the completeness or accuracy of the information.

(b) If a business entity receives a dispute regarding the completeness or accuracy of criminal record information from a person who is the subject of the information, the business entity shall:

(1) verify with the appropriate law enforcement agency or criminal justice agency, including the Department of Public Safety, or any other governmental agency or entity, free of charge the disputed information; and

(2) complete the investigation described by Subdivision (1) not later than the 45th business day after the date on which the entity receives notice of the dispute.

(c) If a business entity finds incomplete or inaccurate criminal record information after conducting an investigation prescribed by this section, the entity shall promptly remove the inaccurate information from the website or other publication or shall promptly correct the information, as applicable. The entity may not:

(1) charge a fee to remove, correct, or modify incomplete or inaccurate information; or

(2) continue to publish incomplete or inaccurate information.

(d) A business entity shall provide written notice to the person who disputed the completeness or accuracy of information of the results of an investigation conducted under this section not later than the fifth business day after the date on which the investigation is completed.

Sec. 109.005. PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN CRIMINAL RECORD INFORMATION PROHIBITED; CIVIL LIABILITY. (a) A person may not publish any criminal record information in the person's possession with respect to which the person has knowledge or has received notice that:

(1) an order of expunction has been issued under Article 55.02, Code of Criminal Procedure; or

(2) an order of nondisclosure has been issued under Section 411.081(d), Government Code.

(b) A person who publishes information in violation of Subsection (a) is liable to the individual who is the subject of the information in an amount not to exceed $500 for each separate violation and, in the case of a continuing violation, $500 for each subsequent day on which the violation occurs.

(c) In an action brought under this section, the court may grant injunctive relief to prevent or restrain a violation of this section.

(d) An individual who prevails in an action brought under this section is also entitled to recover court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

Sec. 109.006. CIVIL PENALTY; INJUNCTION. (a) A business entity that publishes criminal record information in violation of this chapter is liable to the state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $500 for each separate violation and, in the case of a continuing violation, $500 for each subsequent day on which the violation occurs. For purposes of this subsection, each criminal record published in violation of this chapter constitutes a separate violation.

(b) The attorney general or an appropriate prosecuting attorney may sue to collect a civil penalty under this section.

(c) A civil penalty collected under this section shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.

(d) The attorney general may bring an action in the name of the state to restrain or enjoin a violation or threatened violation of this chapter.

(e) The attorney general or an appropriate prosecuting attorney is entitled to recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining injunctive relief or a civil penalty, or both, under this chapter, including court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

Sec. 109.007. VENUE. An action under this chapter must be brought in a district court:

(1) in Travis County;

(2) in the county in which the person who is the subject of the criminal record information resides; or

(3) in the county in which the business entity is located.

Sec. 109.008. CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The actions and remedies provided by this chapter are not exclusive and are in addition to any other action or remedy provided by law.

SECTION 2. Chapter 109, Business & Commerce Code, as added by this Act, applies to any publication of criminal record information that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether:

(1) the information relates to events or activities that occurred before, on, or after that date; or

(2) the information was initially published before that date.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.