BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 1924

By: Elkins

Government Transparency & Operation

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties contend that the online posting of information identifying the taxable receipts of an individual business contained in or derived from a record, report, or other document required to be provided in relation to the hotel occupancy tax results in a burdensome amount of unsolicited vendor communications to such businesses. H.B. 1924 seeks to prohibit a state agency from posting such information on a public website, but provides such information is available through an open records request.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

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. 1924 amends the Tax Code to prohibit a state agency from posting on a public website information identifying the taxable receipts of an individual business that is contained in or derived from a record, report, or other document required to be provided in relation to the hotel occupancy tax. The bill classifies such identifying information as public information if it is collected or maintained by a state agency, requires a state agency to provide access to that information in the manner provided by state public information law, and excludes that information from certain required disclosure exceptions.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.