87R1715 YDB-F
 
  By: Hughes S.B. No. 1001
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the capture and retention of biometric identifiers by
  governmental entities; 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; 
               (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; or
               (5)  is required for use under Section 521.059,
  Transportation Code.
         (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 is 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, 2021.