85R7318 EES-F
By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1380
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the disclosure to a law enforcement agency of
confidential information relating to a complaint filed with the
Texas Ethics Commission; creating a criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 571.140(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (b-1) or by
Section 571.1401 or 571.171, proceedings at a preliminary review
hearing performed by the commission, a sworn complaint, and
documents and any additional evidence relating to the processing,
preliminary review, preliminary review hearing, or resolution of a
sworn complaint or motion are confidential and may not be disclosed
unless entered into the record of a formal hearing or a judicial
proceeding, except that a document or statement that was previously
public information remains public information.
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 571, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 571.1401 to read as follows:
Sec. 571.1401. CERTAIN DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. (a) To
protect the public interest, the commission may disclose to a law
enforcement agency information that is confidential under Section
571.140(a).
(b) The commission may disclose information under this
section only to the extent necessary for the recipient of the
information to perform a duty or function that is in addition to the
commission's duties and functions.
(c) Information disclosed to a law enforcement agency under
this section remains confidential, and the agency must take
appropriate measures to maintain that confidentiality.
(d) A person commits an offense if the person discloses
confidential information obtained under this section. An offense
under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.