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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the confidentiality of certain information maintained |
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by state licensing agencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 552.1176, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Information that relates to the home or business |
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address, place of work, [home] telephone number, electronic mail |
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address, social security number, [or] date of birth, driver's |
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license number or state identification number, passport number, |
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emergency contact information, license application, criminal |
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history record information obtained in connection with the issuance |
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or renewal of a license, or payment information of a person licensed |
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to practice law in this state that is maintained under Chapter 81 is |
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confidential and may not be disclosed to the public under this |
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chapter if the person to whom the information relates: |
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(1) chooses to restrict public access to the |
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information; and |
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(2) notifies the State Bar of Texas of the person's |
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choice, in writing or electronically, on a form provided by the |
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state bar. |
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(d) Subsection (a) does not make confidential or except from |
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required public disclosure the name, state bar identification |
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number, membership class, or eligibility to practice law of an |
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applicant for a license, a license holder, or a person who |
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previously held a license. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 552.11765 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 552.11765. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION |
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MAINTAINED BY STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY. (a) In this section, |
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"license" means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or |
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other authorization that: |
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(1) is issued by a governmental body described by |
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Section 552.003(1)(A)(i); and |
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(2) a person must obtain to practice or engage in a |
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particular business, occupation, or profession. |
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(b) Information maintained by a governmental body described |
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by Section 552.003(1)(A)(i) is confidential and excepted from the |
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requirements of Section 552.021 if: |
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(1) the information relates to the home or business |
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address, place of work, telephone number, electronic mail address, |
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social security number, date of birth, driver's license or state |
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identification number, passport number, emergency contact |
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information, license application, criminal history record |
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information obtained in connection with the issuance or renewal of |
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a license, or payment information of: |
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(A) an applicant for a license issued by the |
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governmental body; |
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(B) a person who holds a license issued by the |
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governmental body; or |
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(C) a person who previously held a license issued |
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by the governmental body; and |
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(2) the person to whom the information relates: |
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(A) chooses to restrict public access to the |
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information; and |
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(B) notifies the governmental body of the |
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person's choice, in writing or electronically, on a form provided |
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by the governmental body. |
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(c) A choice made under Subsection (b)(2) remains valid |
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until rescinded in writing or electronically by the person. |
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(d) Subsection (b) does not make confidential or except from |
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required public disclosure the name, license number, or license |
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status of an applicant for a license, a license holder, or a person |
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who previously held a license. |
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SECTION 3. 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, |
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including the State Bar of Texas, or an officer for public |
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information on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |