85R7319 EES-F
By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 2472
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to waiving confidentiality regarding proceedings and
information relating to a complaint filed with the Texas Ethics
Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 571.140, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-2) to read as
follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), [or] (b-1), or
(b-2) or by Section 571.171, proceedings at a preliminary review
hearing performed by the commission, a sworn complaint or motion,
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.
(b-2) A respondent named in a sworn complaint or motion
waives confidentiality regarding any proceedings and information
relating to the sworn complaint or motion, with respect to the
respondent, by:
(1) publicly disclosing confidential information
relating to the sworn complaint or motion; or
(2) providing a verified, written waiver of
confidentiality to the executive director.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.