86R8783 YDB-F

By: Hughes S.B. No. 485

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the capture of a biometric identifier by a governmental entity; providing civil penalties.

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

SECTION 1. Section 560.001, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 560.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Biometric identifier" means an ear, [a] retina, or iris scan, a fingerprint, a voiceprint, or a record of an individual's hand or face geometry, heartbeat, gait, or vascular pattern.

(2) "Governmental entity" means this state or an agency or political subdivision of this state [body" has the meaning assigned by Section 552.003, except that the term includes each entity within or created by the judicial branch of state government].

SECTION 2. Chapter 560, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 560.0015 to read as follows:

Sec. 560.0015. CAPTURE OF BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a governmental entity may not capture an individual's biometric identifier without the individual's voluntary consent. Except as provided by Subsection (c), a governmental entity may not retain or use an individual's biometric identifier that is captured using a photograph, video recording, or audio recording of the individual.

(b) A governmental entity may capture an individual's biometric identifier without the individual's consent if the capture:

(1) occurs at a location not more than 10 miles from an international border;

(2) is authorized under a warrant;

(3) occurs during the investigation of an alleged crime and the biometric identifier is:

(A) a fingerprint; or

(B) from an individual who is arrested for, charged with, or convicted of the crime; or

(4) is a fingerprint, heartbeat, or vascular pattern captured by a health care provider or health care facility that captures, possesses, or requires the biometric identifier while providing health care services to the individual on the request of the governmental entity.

(c) A governmental entity may retain and use an individual's biometric identifier that is captured using a photograph, video recording, or audio recording of the individual if:

(1) the photograph or recording is captured in relation to a time, place, or event connected to a criminal investigation; and

(2) the governmental entity destroys the record of the biometric identifier on completion of the entity's use of the biometric identifier for:

(A) the criminal investigation; or

(B) the trial or appeal of the prosecution of an alleged crime charged as a result of the investigation.

SECTION 3. Section 560.002, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 560.002. DISCLOSURE OF BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER. A governmental entity [body] that possesses a biometric identifier of an individual:

(1) may not sell, lease, or otherwise disclose the biometric identifier to another person unless:

(A) the individual consents to the disclosure;

(B) the disclosure is required or permitted by a federal statute or by a state statute other than Chapter 552; or

(C) the disclosure is made by or to a law enforcement agency for a law enforcement purpose; and

(2) shall store, transmit, and protect from disclosure the biometric identifier using reasonable care and in a manner that is the same as or more protective than the manner in which the governmental entity [body] stores, transmits, and protects its other confidential information.

SECTION 4. Chapter 560, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 560.0025 to read as follows:

Sec. 560.0025. DESTRUCTION AFTER ACQUITTAL OR DISMISSAL OF CRIMINAL CHARGE. A governmental entity that captures an individual's biometric identifier based on an exception under Section 560.0015(b)(2) or (3) shall destroy all records of the biometric identifier if the biometric identifier was collected:

(1) under a warrant issued in the investigation of an alleged crime and charges against the individual are not filed; or

(2) exclusively in connection with the investigation of a crime for which:

(A) the individual was subsequently acquitted; or

(B) all charges against the individual resulting from the investigation are dismissed.

SECTION 5. Section 560.003, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 560.003. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER 552. A biometric identifier in the possession of a governmental entity [body] is exempt from disclosure under Chapter 552.

SECTION 6. Chapter 560, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 560.004 and 560.005 to read as follows:

Sec. 560.004. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) The attorney general may institute an action for injunctive relief against a person who appears to be in violation of or threatening to violate this chapter.

(b) In an injunction issued under this section, a court may include reasonable requirements to prevent further violations of this chapter.

(c) In addition to the injunctive relief provided by Subsection (a), the attorney general may institute an action for civil penalties against a person for a violation of this chapter. A civil penalty assessed under this section may not be less than $1,000 for each violation.

(d) Each day a violation occurs or continues to occur is a separate violation.

(e) The attorney general shall file an action under this section in a district court in Travis County or the county in which the violation occurred.

(f) The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining injunctive relief or a civil penalty under this section, including court costs, attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and deposition expenses.

(g) A civil penalty recovered in an action by the attorney general under this section shall be deposited in the state treasury.

Sec. 560.005. WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN OR GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY. Sovereign or governmental immunity, as applicable, of a governmental entity to suit and from liability is waived and abolished to the extent of liability created by this chapter.

SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a biometric identifier, as that term is defined by Section 560.001, Government Code, as amended by this Act, that is captured on or after the effective date of this Act. A biometric identifier that was captured before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the biometric identifier was captured, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.