86R5469 MCK-D

By: Cortez H.B. No. 1351

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the confidentiality of certain information concerning service members of the United States armed forces and the state military forces.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 434.0205 to read as follows:

Sec. 434.0205. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO COMMISSION. (a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who has served in:

(1) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States;

(2) the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001; or

(3) an auxiliary service of one of those branches of the armed forces.

(b) Any information provided by a veteran to the commission to receive services or participate in commission programs is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.

SECTION 2. 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, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(a) Information is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 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) a current or former official or employee of a governmental body, except as otherwise provided by Section 552.024;

(2) a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or a security officer commissioned under Section 51.212, Education Code, regardless of whether the officer complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175, as applicable;

(3) a current or former employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or of the predecessor in function of the department or any division of the department, regardless of whether the current or former employee complies with Section 552.1175;

(4) a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or other law, a reserve law enforcement officer, a commissioned deputy game warden, or a corrections officer in a municipal, county, or state penal institution in this state who was killed in the line of duty, regardless of whether the deceased complied with Section 552.024 or 552.1175;

(5) a commissioned security officer as defined by Section 1702.002, Occupations Code, regardless of whether the officer complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175, as applicable;

(6) an officer or employee of a community supervision and corrections department established under Chapter 76 who performs a duty described by Section 76.004(b), regardless of whether the officer or employee complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175;

(7) a current or former employee of the office of the attorney general who is or was assigned to a division of that office the duties of which involve law enforcement, regardless of whether the current or former employee complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175;

(8) a current or former employee of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or of the predecessors in function of the department, regardless of whether the current or former employee complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175;

(9) a current or former juvenile probation or supervision officer certified by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, or the predecessors in function of the department, under Title 12, Human Resources Code, regardless of whether the current or former officer complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175;

(10) a current or former employee of a juvenile justice program or facility, as those terms are defined by Section 261.405, Family Code, regardless of whether the current or former employee complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175;

(11) a current or former member of the United States army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps, an auxiliary service of one of those branches of the armed forces, or the Texas military forces, as that term is defined by Section 437.001; [or]

(12) a current or former district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county or municipal attorney whose jurisdiction includes any criminal law or child protective services matters, regardless of whether the current or former attorney complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175; [or]

(13) a current or former employee of a district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county or municipal attorney whose jurisdiction includes any criminal law or child protective services matters, regardless of whether the current or former employee complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175;

(14) [(12)] a current or former employee of the Texas Civil Commitment Office or of the predecessor in function of the office or a division of the office, regardless of whether the current or former employee complies with Section 552.024 or 552.1175; or

(15) [(12)] a current or former federal judge or state judge, as those terms are defined by Section 13.0021(a), Election Code, or a spouse of a current or former federal judge or state judge[; or

[(13) a current or former district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney whose jurisdiction includes any criminal law or child protective services matter].

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.