By: West  S.B. No. 997
         (In the Senate - Filed February 17, 2023; March 3, 2023,
  read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
  April 18, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 0; April 18, 2023,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 997 By:  Hughes
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the publication of certain photographs of human remains
  by certain individuals for a purpose other than an authorized
  purpose; providing a civil penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the Kobe and Gianna
  Bryant Act.
         SECTION 2.  Subtitle A, Title 8, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 672A to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 672A.  PROHIBITED PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS OF
  HUMAN REMAINS 
         Sec. 672A.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 
               (1)  "Human remains" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 711.001.
               (2)  "Publish" means to display, present, or release a
  photograph to an unauthorized person, or to cause a photograph to be
  displayed, presented, or released to an unauthorized person.
         Sec. 672A.002.  PROHIBITED PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN
  PHOTOGRAPHS DEPICTING HUMAN REMAINS.  (a)  An individual may not
  publish photograph of human remains that the individual obtained
  while acting within the course and scope of the individual's duties
  as an officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision
  of this state.
         (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a), a photograph is
  considered to have been published if the photograph is: 
               (1)  displayed to an unauthorized person; 
               (2)  released to an unauthorized person by any delivery
  method, including text message, e-mail, or facsimile;
               (3)  posted on a social media platform; or 
               (4)  sold to a news publication. 
         Sec. 672A.003.  CIVIL PENALTY.  (a)  An individual who
  violates Section 672A.002 is liable for a civil penalty in an amount
  not to exceed $10,000 for each violation.
         (b)  The attorney general or the appropriate county or
  district attorney may sue to collect the civil penalty provided by
  Subsection (a) and may recover attorney's fees and costs incurred
  in obtaining relief under this section. 
         (c)  It is a defense to liability for a civil penalty under
  this section that: 
               (1)  the individual published the photograph of human
  remains for an official law enforcement, scientific, educational,
  research, or medical purpose, or as part of a civil proceeding; or 
               (2)  the photograph was published in a documentary film
  or television show with the approval of the chief medical examiner,
  coroner, or commissioners court, as applicable, and the remains are
  unidentifiable.
         (d)  A defendant may not assert official immunity as a
  defense in an action brought under this section. 
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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