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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to protection for public employees who report violations |
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of law by governmental entities or other public employees; creating |
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a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 554, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 554.0025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 554.0025. DISCLOSURE OF IDENTITY OF REPORTING PUBLIC |
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EMPLOYEE PROHIBITED; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if |
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the person discloses the identity of a public employee who in good |
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faith reports a violation of law by the employing state or local |
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governmental entity or another public employee to an appropriate |
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law enforcement authority if the disclosure is made to a person who |
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is not assisting in the investigation or prosecution of the |
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violation of law reported by the public employee. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. |
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(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this |
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section that the public employee who reported the violation of law |
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consented to the disclosure of the employee's identity. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |