| 13 | | - | Code, is amended by adding Section 161.080 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | | - | Sec. 161.080. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a) |
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| 15 | | - | This section applies only to: |
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| 16 | | - | (1) a veteran or a family member of the veteran who |
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| 17 | | - | applies for or receives any benefits or services offered by the |
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| 18 | | - | board; or |
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| 19 | | - | (2) a current member of: |
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| 20 | | - | (A) the armed forces of the United States, |
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| 21 | | - | including a reserve component; or |
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| 22 | | - | (B) the Texas military forces, as that term is |
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| 23 | | - | defined by Section 437.001, Government Code. |
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| 24 | | - | (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the following |
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| 25 | | - | information received or maintained by the board that relates to a |
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| 26 | | - | person to whom this section applies is confidential and not subject |
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| 27 | | - | to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code: |
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| 28 | | - | (1) name; |
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| 29 | | - | (2) home address; |
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| 30 | | - | (3) telephone number; |
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| 31 | | - | (4) e-mail address; |
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| 32 | | - | (5) emergency contact information; |
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| 33 | | - | (6) social security number; or |
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| 34 | | - | (7) any other information that reveals whether the |
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| 35 | | - | person has family members. |
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| 36 | | - | (c) The board may disclose the information described by |
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| 37 | | - | Subsection (b) to: |
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| 38 | | - | (1) a federal agency, state agency, political |
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| 39 | | - | subdivision of this state, or private vendor contracted by the |
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| 40 | | - | board for the purpose of administering any benefits or services |
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| 41 | | - | offered by the board for veterans or the family members of veterans; |
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| 42 | | - | or |
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| 43 | | - | (2) any person with the written consent of a person to |
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| 44 | | - | whom this section applies if: |
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| 45 | | - | (A) the information is disclosed for the purpose |
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| 46 | | - | specified in the written consent; and |
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| 47 | | - | (B) the disclosed information relates to the |
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| 48 | | - | consenting person. |
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| 49 | | - | (d) Information disclosed under Subsection (c) is not |
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| 50 | | - | subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, and the |
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| 51 | | - | disclosure does not constitute a voluntary disclosure to the public |
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| 52 | | - | by the board for purposes of Section 552.007, Government Code. |
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| 53 | | - | (e) To the extent of any conflict between this section and |
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| 54 | | - | Section 552.137, Government Code, this section prevails. |
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| 55 | | - | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 56 | | - | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 12 | + | Code, is amended by adding Section 161.____ to read as follows: |
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| 13 | + | Sec. 161.____. CONFIDENTIALITY. |
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| 14 | + | (a) Notwithstanding Section 552.137(c)(1), Government |
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| 15 | + | Code, the following information received or maintained by the Board |
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| 16 | + | is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, |
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| 17 | + | Government Code: |
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| 18 | + | (1) the name, home address, telephone number, e-mail |
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| 19 | + | address, emergency contact information, social security number, or |
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| 20 | + | any other information that reveals whether the person has family |
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| 21 | + | members, of: |
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| 22 | + | (A) a Veteran or their family member that applies |
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| 23 | + | for or receives any benefits or services offered by the Board; or |
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| 24 | + | (B) a current member of the United States Army, |
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| 25 | + | Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps, an auxiliary service |
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| 26 | + | of one of those branches of the armed forces, or the Texas military |
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| 27 | + | forces, as that term is defined by Section 437.001, Government |
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| 28 | + | Code. |
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| 29 | + | (b) The Board may disclose or release the information in |
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| 30 | + | Subsection (a)(1) to: |
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| 31 | + | (1) a federal agency, state agency, city, or county |
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| 32 | + | for the purpose of fulfilling the Board's duty to administer any |
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| 33 | + | benefits or services offered by the Board for Veterans or their |
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| 34 | + | family members; or |
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| 35 | + | (2) a private entity or individual contracted or hired |
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| 36 | + | by the Board for the purpose of assisting the Board in administering |
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| 37 | + | any benefits or services offered by the Board for Veterans or their |
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| 38 | + | family members; or |
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| 39 | + | (3) any person or persons with the written consent of |
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| 40 | + | those named in Subsection (a)(1)(A) and (B) for the limited purpose |
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| 41 | + | specified in such written consent. |
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| 42 | + | (c) Any information released or disclosed pursuant to |
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| 43 | + | Subsection (b) is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, |
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| 44 | + | Government Code and will not constitute a voluntary disclosure to |
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| 45 | + | the public by the Board for purposes of Section 552.007, Government |
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| 46 | + | Code. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 2: This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 48 | + | a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as |
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