By: Guerra, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 3130

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2023; May 11, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services; May 21, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 21, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the protection of certain occupational licensing information regarding clients of family violence shelter centers, victims of trafficking shelter centers, and sexual assault programs and survivors of family violence, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 552.138(a), Government Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:

(1-a) "License" means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other authorization that:

(A) is issued by a governmental body; and

(B) a person must obtain to practice or engage in a particular business, occupation, or profession.

SECTION 2. Section 552.138, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:

(f) Notwithstanding any other law, a governmental body may not sell or otherwise release the name, home or business address, place of employment, telephone number, electronic mail address, social security number, date of birth, driver's license or state identification number, passport number, emergency contact information, or numeric identifier of a person who:

(1) holds, previously held, or is an applicant for a license issued by the governmental body; and

(2) notifies the governmental body on a form provided by the office of the attorney general or the governmental body that the person:

(A) is a current or former client of a family violence shelter center, victims of trafficking shelter center, or sexual assault program or is a survivor of family violence, domestic violence, or sexual assault; and

(B) chooses to restrict public access to the information.

(g) A governmental body may redact information described by Subsection (f) from a response to a request for a list or directory of license holders, former license holders, or license applicants without the necessity of requesting a decision from the attorney general under Subchapter G.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the office of the attorney general shall prepare the form described by Section 552.138(f)(2), Government Code, as added by this Act, make the form available on the attorney general's website, and notify family violence shelter centers, victims of trafficking shelter centers, and sexual assault programs of the availability and purpose of the form.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

* * * * *