BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1079

By: West

Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee regarding the dangers and breaches in sensitive information that can occur when sensitive media devices, including computers or tablets that are used by employees of government entities, are disposed of improperly. The bill sponsor has further informed the committee that these devices can contain sensitive information crucial to regular governmental operations, which can call for a high degree of confidentiality. S.B. 1079 authorizes a county commissioners court to order the destruction of certain sensitive media devices to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of regulated information.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1079 amends the Local Government Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county to order the destruction of a sensitive media device that is salvage or surplus property and for which the commissioners court determines that the destruction is necessary to prevent inadvertent disclosure of information in connection with the disposal of the device. The bill defines "sensitive media device" as a data storage device that the commissioners court of a county determines the county has used to store data the maintenance or disclosure of which is regulated by state or federal law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.