| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the collection and confidentiality of information |
|
|
regarding weapons in agency foster homes; creating a civil penalty. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 42.042, Human Resources Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Subsections (e-6), (e-7), (e-8), and (e-9) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(e-6) The commission, the department, and a child-placing |
|
|
agency that contracts with the department may not require an agency |
|
|
foster home to: |
|
|
(1) disclose the specific types of weapons, including |
|
|
firearms, that are present in the home; or |
|
|
(2) notify the child-placing agency if there is any |
|
|
change in the types of weapons, including firearms, that are |
|
|
present in the home. |
|
|
(e-7) If the commission, the department, or a child-placing |
|
|
agency that contracts with the department has or obtains |
|
|
information relating to the types of weapons, including firearms, |
|
|
that are present in an agency foster home, the commission, |
|
|
department, or child-placing agency may not use that information |
|
|
for any purpose other than determining whether there are weapons |
|
|
present in the home. |
|
|
(e-8) A child-placing agency that violates Subsection (e-7) |
|
|
is liable to the state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed |
|
|
$5,000 for each violation. The attorney general may bring an action |
|
|
to recover a civil penalty authorized under this subsection. |
|
|
(e-9) Information relating to the types of weapons, |
|
|
including firearms, that are present in an agency foster home is |
|
|
confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, |
|
|
Government Code. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |