BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2267 By: Larson Government Efficiency & Reform Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties note that, while private residence data and deed records associated with most citizens in this state are available to the public via property tax appraisal records, state law allows the personal residence information of various categories of government employees who work in law enforcement-related fields to be kept confidential from the public in order to protect them from potential harm. These parties contend that because forensic scientists and medical examiners at various levels of government testify in criminal trials and often provide incriminating evidence against a plaintiff, they are vulnerable to retribution as a result of their testimony and should be included in the category of government employees whose personal residence information is kept confidential. H.B. 2267 seeks to extend this protection to such professionals. 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 H.B. 2267 reenacts and amends Section 25.025(a), Tax Code, as amended by Chapters 348 (H.B. 3307) and 953 (H.B. 1046), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, to include a medical examiner or person who performs forensic analysis or testing who is employed by the state or one or more Texas political subdivisions among the individuals for whom information in property tax appraisal records is confidential and available only for the use of certain state and local government entities if the records identify the individual's home address and the individual chooses to restrict public access to information in the records. H.B. 2267 establishes that its provisions prevail to the extent of any conflict with another act of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2267
By: Larson
Government Efficiency & Reform
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2267
By: Larson
Government Efficiency & Reform
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties note that, while private residence data and deed records associated with most citizens in this state are available to the public via property tax appraisal records, state law allows the personal residence information of various categories of government employees who work in law enforcement-related fields to be kept confidential from the public in order to protect them from potential harm. These parties contend that because forensic scientists and medical examiners at various levels of government testify in criminal trials and often provide incriminating evidence against a plaintiff, they are vulnerable to retribution as a result of their testimony and should be included in the category of government employees whose personal residence information is kept confidential. H.B. 2267 seeks to extend this protection to such professionals.
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 H.B. 2267 reenacts and amends Section 25.025(a), Tax Code, as amended by Chapters 348 (H.B. 3307) and 953 (H.B. 1046), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, to include a medical examiner or person who performs forensic analysis or testing who is employed by the state or one or more Texas political subdivisions among the individuals for whom information in property tax appraisal records is confidential and available only for the use of certain state and local government entities if the records identify the individual's home address and the individual chooses to restrict public access to information in the records. H.B. 2267 establishes that its provisions prevail to the extent of any conflict with another act of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties note that, while private residence data and deed records associated with most citizens in this state are available to the public via property tax appraisal records, state law allows the personal residence information of various categories of government employees who work in law enforcement-related fields to be kept confidential from the public in order to protect them from potential harm. These parties contend that because forensic scientists and medical examiners at various levels of government testify in criminal trials and often provide incriminating evidence against a plaintiff, they are vulnerable to retribution as a result of their testimony and should be included in the category of government employees whose personal residence information is kept confidential. H.B. 2267 seeks to extend this protection to such professionals.
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
H.B. 2267 reenacts and amends Section 25.025(a), Tax Code, as amended by Chapters 348 (H.B. 3307) and 953 (H.B. 1046), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, to include a medical examiner or person who performs forensic analysis or testing who is employed by the state or one or more Texas political subdivisions among the individuals for whom information in property tax appraisal records is confidential and available only for the use of certain state and local government entities if the records identify the individual's home address and the individual chooses to restrict public access to information in the records.
H.B. 2267 establishes that its provisions prevail to the extent of any conflict with another act of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.