Texas House Bill HB3131

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of House Committee: 5/3/11
• Introduced: 3/10/11
• Refer: 3/18/11
• Report Pass: 4/27/11

Caption

Relating to providing that certain travel vouchers submitted by peace officers assigned to a protective detail are confidential.

Impact

The introduction of HB 3131 effectively alters the landscape of public information access by establishing a new level of confidentiality for travel expenses incurred by peace officers. While the bill allows for some transparency—requiring state agencies to provide summaries of the amounts paid or reimbursed and a summary of goods and services acquired—much of the detailed information regarding individual travel vouchers remains undisclosed. This could significantly change how expense information is shared with the public, especially in scenarios concerning law enforcement and state protection details.

Summary

House Bill 3131 addresses the confidentiality of travel vouchers submitted by peace officers who are assigned to provide protection for elected officials or their families. The bill amends Section 660 of the Government Code by adding Section 660.2035, which stipulates that certain travel vouchers related to protective details are considered confidential and are not subject to disclosure under Texas's open records law (Chapter 552). This legislative measure aims to safeguard sensitive information that could potentially compromise the safety of those under protection, such as elected officials and their families.

Contention

Notably, the bill may face contention over the balance between public transparency and the necessity of confidentiality for safety reasons. Advocates argue that safeguarding the privacy of protective details is critical for the security of elected officials, especially in light of various threats they may face. However, opponents might raise concerns about the potential for misuse or lack of accountability in public spending, emphasizing that transparency in government operations is a foundational principle that should not be compromised.