Texas Senate Bill SB331

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 4/21/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/1/09
• Out of House Committee: 5/20/09

Caption

Relating to access to certain information under the public information law concerning public officers and employees.

Impact

If passed, SB331 intends to strengthen the existing laws around privacy for state employees and officials. It emphasizes the importance of personal safety by allowing individuals to opt-out of having their personal information disclosed. This could lead to significant changes in how information is managed and disclosed by governmental bodies, potentially affecting transparency in public offices while providing necessary safeguards to relevant individuals.

Summary

SB331 aims to amend the public information law concerning access to personal information of public officers and employees in Texas. It introduces provisions that enhance the privacy protection of certain individuals, allowing them to choose if their personal information, such as home addresses and phone numbers, should be made available to the public. This bill seeks to establish a clearer process through which public officials can request the withholding of specific information from public access to improve their safety and privacy, particularly for those in sensitive positions.

Contention

The implementation of SB331 may raise concerns among advocates for transparency and accountability within government. Critics may argue that facilitating the withholding of personal information could hinder the public's ability to access important data regarding public officials, which is essential for community oversight and trust. Balancing the right to privacy with the rights of the public to access information could lead to debates in legislative sessions, as stakeholders discuss the limitations and implications of the proposed changes to public information laws.