BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1494

By: Paxton

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the possible risks posed to child protective services investigators and caseworkers due to the lack of protections for certain personal identifying information. S.B. 1494 seeks to provide for confidentiality protections afforded under state law for such personal information.

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

S.B. 1494 amends the Government Code to except from the public availability requirement of state public information law information that relates to the home address, home telephone number, emergency contact information, or social security number of a current or former child protective services caseworker or investigator for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or a current or former employee of a DFPS contractor performing child protective services caseworker or investigator functions for the contractor on behalf of DFPS and information that reveals whether such a person has family members, with a certain exception. The bill makes statutory provisions relating to the confidentiality of certain personal identifying information of peace officers and other officials performing sensitive governmental functions applicable to such a person.

S.B. 1494 amends the Tax Code to make statutory provisions relating to the confidentiality of certain home address information in appraisal records applicable to such a caseworker, investigator, or employee.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.