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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disclosure of information in department files of |
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fire fighters or police officers in certain municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 143.089, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (g) and adding Subsection (h) to |
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read as follows: |
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(g) A fire or police department may maintain a personnel |
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file on a fire fighter or police officer employed by the department |
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for the department's use. The information contained in the |
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department file is public information subject to disclosure under |
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Chapter 552, Government Code, unless the information is made |
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confidential under that chapter or other law [, but the department |
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may not release any information contained in the department file to |
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any agency or person requesting information relating to a fire |
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fighter or police officer. The department shall refer to the |
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director or the director's designee a person or agency that |
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requests information that is maintained in the fire fighter's or |
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police officer's personnel file]. |
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(h) Before the department responds to a request for public |
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information under Subsection (g), the department shall provide the |
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fire fighter or police officer with a copy of the request and |
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written notice of the department's intent to comply with the |
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request. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |