81R3401 JD-F
By: Smith of Tarrant H.B. No. 1747
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the release of motor vehicle accident report
information.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 550.065, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and adding Subsections
(e) and (f) to read as follows:
(a) This section applies only to information that is held by
the department or another governmental entity and relates to a
motor vehicle accident reported under this chapter or Section
601.004, including accident report information compiled under
Section 201.805, as added by Chapter 1407, Acts of the 80th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2007.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) or (e), the
information is privileged and for the confidential use of:
(1) the department; and
(2) an agency of the United States, this state, or a
local government of this state that has use for the information for
accident prevention purposes.
(d) The fee for a copy of the report or accident information
is $6 [or the actual cost of the preparation of the copy, whichever
is less]. The copy may be certified by the department or the
governmental entity for an additional fee of $2. The department or
the governmental entity may issue a certification that no report or
information is on file for a fee of $6.
(e) In addition to the information required to be released
under Subsection (c), the department may release aggregated or
statistical information relating to motor vehicle accidents that
the department compiles under Section 201.805, as added by Chapter
1407, Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007. The
department may not release under this subsection information that:
(1) is personal information, as defined by Section
730.003; or
(2) identifies a specific accident.
(f) The fee for information provided under Subsection (e) is
the actual cost of preparing the information.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.