BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2446
86R16829 MCK-D	By: Swanson et al. (Fallon)
	Business & Commerce
	5/15/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 2446 amends current law relating to the availability of certain information regarding firefighters, volunteer firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel.

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 552.117(a), Government Code, as amended by Chapters 34 (S.B. 1576), 190 (S.B. 42), and 1006 (H.B. 1278), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, and amends it as follows:

(a) Provides that information is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 (Availability of Public Information) if it is information that relates to the home address, home telephone number, emergency contact information, or social security number of the following person or that reveals whether the person has family members:

(1)�(10) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(11)�(13) makes nonsubstantive changes to these subdivisions;

(14) redesignates Subdivision (12), as amended by Chapter 34 (S.B.1576), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, as Subdivision (14) and makes no further changes;

(15) redesignates Subdivision (12), as amended by Chapter 190 (S.B.42), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, as Subdivision (15) and makes a nonsubstantive change; or

(16) a firefighter or volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services personnel as defined by Section 773.003 (Definitions), Health and Safety Code, regardless of whether the firefighter or volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services personnel comply with Section 552.024 (Electing to Disclose Address and Telephone Number) or 552.1175, as applicable. Deletes existing Subdivision (13) relating to a current or former district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney whose jurisdiction includes any criminal law or child protective services matter.

SECTION 2. Amends the heading to Section 552.1175, Government Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 552.1175. EXCEPTION: CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF PEACE OFFICERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS PERFORMING SENSITIVE GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 552.1175(a), Government Code, as follows:

(a) Provides that this section only applies to:

(1)�(12) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(13)�(14) makes nonsubstantive changes to these subdivisions; and

(15) a firefighter or volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services personnel as defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 4. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, by adding Section 552.159, as follows:

Sec. 552.159. EXCEPTION: CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN WORK SCHEDULES. Provides that a work schedule or a time sheet of a firefighter or volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services personnel as defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code, is confidential and excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021.

SECTION 5. Reenacts Section 25.025(a), Tax Code, as amended by Chapters 34 (S.B. 1576), 41 (S.B. 256), 193 (S.B. 510), 1006 (H.B. 1278), and 1145 (H.B. 457), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, and amends it as follows:

(a) Provides that this section (Confidentiality of Certain Home Address Information) only applies to:

(1)�(6) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(7)�(9) redesignates Subdivisions (6)�(8), as amended by Chapter 41 (S.B. 256), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, as Subdivisions (7)�(9) and makes no further changes;

(10) redesignates existing Subdivision (7) as Subdivision (10) and makes no further changes;

(11)�(21) redesignates Subdivisions (9)�(19), as amended by Chapter 41 (S.B. 256), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, as Subdivisions (11)�(21) and makes a nonsubstantive change;

(22) redesignates Subdivision (18), as amended by Chapter 34 (S.B. 1576), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, as Subdivision (22) and makes a nonsubstantive change;

(23) redesignates Subdivision (18), as amended by Chapter 193 (S.B. 510), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, as Subdivision (23) and makes a nonsubstantive change; and

(24) a firefighter or volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services personnel as defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 6. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 7. Provides that, to the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over another Act of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.

SECTION 8. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.