By: Watson S.B. No. 1655
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the confidentiality of certain information.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 552.101, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 552.101.  EXCEPTION:  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.  
  (a)  Information is excepted from the requirements of Section
  552.021 if it is information considered to be confidential by law,
  either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision.
         (b)  This section does not encompass the attorney-client
  privilege, the work product privilege, other exceptions in this
  Chapter, or state or federal discovery privileges, including but
  not limited to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Texas Rules of
  Evidence, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct,
  Federal Rules of Evidence, and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
         SECTION 2.  Section 552.302, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 552.302. FAILURE TO MAKE TIMELY REQUEST FOR ATTORNEY
  GENERAL DECISION; PRESUMPTION THAT INFORMATION IS PUBLIC.  (a)  If
  a governmental body does not request an attorney general decision
  as provided by Section 552.301 and provide the requestor with the
  information required by Sections 552.301(d) and (e-1), the
  information requested in writing is presumed to be subject to
  required public disclosure and must be released unless there is a
  compelling reason to withhold the information.
         (b)  Notwithstanding subsection (a), Sections 552.103,
  552.104, 552.105, 552.106, 552.108, 552.111, 552.112, 552.116,
  552.122, 552.125, 552.144, 552.146, 552.153, and 552.154 do not
  constitute compelling reasons to withhold information for a
  governmental body that fails to comply with the requirements of
  Section 552.301.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.