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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a special right of access to certain public information |
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by an individual who is a victim of a crime. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 552, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 552.0235 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 552.0235. SPECIAL RIGHT OF ACCESS BY CRIME VICTIM. (a) |
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Notwithstanding any other law, and except as provided by Subsection |
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(b), an individual who is a victim of a crime has a special right of |
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access, beyond the right of the public, to information held by a |
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governmental body related to the detection, investigation, and |
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prosecution of that crime, including information that is |
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confidential under law. A governmental body on request by the |
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individual shall provide the information to the individual for |
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inspection or duplication in accordance with this chapter. |
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(b) A governmental body shall redact from any information |
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provided under this section information that would identify the |
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alleged or actual perpetrator of the crime, including the |
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perpetrator's name, address, and social security number. |
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(c) A governmental body, by providing information under |
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this section that is confidential or otherwise excepted from |
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required disclosure under law, does not waive or affect the |
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confidentiality of the information for purposes of state or federal |
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law or waive the right to assert exceptions to required disclosure |
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of the information in the future. |
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(d) This section does not affect: |
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(1) the right of an individual who is the victim of a |
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crime to obtain information from a governmental body under other |
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law; |
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(2) the procedures under which the information is |
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obtained under other law; or |
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(3) the use that may be made of the information |
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obtained under other law. |
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(e) A release of information under Subsection (a) is not an |
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offense under Section 552.352. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a request for public information received by a governmental body or |
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officer for public information on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |