BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2618

By: Hernandez

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been observed that some individuals abuse state public information law to obtain the personal information of individuals who receive a traffic citation with the intention of engaging in conduct constituting barratry and identity theft. H.B. 2618 seeks to combat this exploitative practice by exempting certain personal information contained in a traffic citation from the public-availability requirement of state public information law.

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

H.B. 2618 amends the Government Code to except information contained in a citation issued for a violation of a state traffic law or local traffic ordinance from the public-availability requirement of state public information law if the information is the home address or personal telephone number of the person who is the subject of a citation. The bill requires such information to be made available on the request of an FCC-licensed radio or television station or a qualifying newspaper as described by the bill.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.