| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 87R3149 CJC-D | |
| 2 | 2 | By: Ramos H.B. No. 1251 | |
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 6 | 6 | AN ACT | |
| 7 | 7 | relating to protection for public employees who report violations | |
| 8 | 8 | of law by governmental entities or other public employees; creating | |
| 9 | 9 | a criminal offense. | |
| 10 | 10 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | |
| 11 | 11 | SECTION 1. Chapter 554, Government Code, is amended by | |
| 12 | 12 | adding Section 554.0025 to read as follows: | |
| 13 | 13 | Sec. 554.0025. DISCLOSURE OF IDENTITY OF REPORTING PUBLIC | |
| 14 | 14 | EMPLOYEE PROHIBITED; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if | |
| 15 | 15 | the person discloses the identity of a public employee who in good | |
| 16 | 16 | faith reports a violation of law by the employing state or local | |
| 17 | 17 | governmental entity or another public employee to an appropriate | |
| 18 | 18 | law enforcement authority if the disclosure is made to a person who | |
| 19 | 19 | is not assisting in the investigation or prosecution of the | |
| 20 | 20 | violation of law reported by the public employee. | |
| 21 | 21 | (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. | |
| 22 | 22 | (c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this | |
| 23 | 23 | section that the public employee who reported the violation of law | |
| 24 | 24 | consented to the disclosure of the employee's identity. | |
| 25 | 25 | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |