Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB510 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	S.B. No. 510
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to the confidentiality of certain information maintained
6	6	by state licensing agencies.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Section 552.1176, Government Code, is amended by
9	9	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read
10	10	as follows:
11	11	(a) Information maintained under Chapter 81 is confidential
12	12	and may not be disclosed to the public under this chapter if the
13	13	information:
14	14	(1) is a license application; or
15	15	(2) [that] relates to the home address, home telephone
16	16	number, electronic mail address, social security number, [or] date
17	17	of birth, driver's license number, state identification number,
18	18	passport number, emergency contact information, or payment
19	19	information of an individual [a person] licensed to practice law in
20	20	this state [that is maintained under Chapter 81 is confidential and
21	21	may not be disclosed to the public under this chapter if the person
22	22	to whom the information relates:
23	23	[(1) chooses to restrict public access to the
24	24	information; and
25	25	[(2) notifies the State Bar of Texas of the person's
26	26	choice, in writing or electronically, on a form provided by the
27	27	state bar].
28	28	(d) Subsection (a) does not make confidential or except from
29	29	required public disclosure the name, state bar identification
30	30	number, membership class, or eligibility to practice law of an
31	31	applicant for a license, a license holder, or an individual who
32	32	previously held a license.
33	33	(e) To the extent of any conflict, this section prevails
34	34	over another law that authorizes or requires the release of
35	35	information maintained by the State Bar of Texas.
36	36	SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is
37	37	amended by adding Section 552.11765 to read as follows:
38	38	Sec. 552.11765. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
39	39	MAINTAINED BY STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY. (a) In this section,
40	40	"license" means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or
41	41	other authorization that:
42	42	(1) is issued by a governmental body described by
43	43	Section 552.003(1)(A)(i); and
44	44	(2) an individual must obtain to practice or engage in
45	45	a particular business, occupation, or profession.
46	46	(b) Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (d),
47	47	information maintained by a governmental body described by Section
48	48	552.003(1)(A)(i) is confidential and excepted from the
49	49	requirements of Section 552.021 if the information:
50	50	(1) is a license application; or
51	51	(2) relates to the home address, home telephone
52	52	number, electronic mail address, social security number, date of
53	53	birth, driver's license number, state identification number,
54	54	passport number, emergency contact information, or payment
55	55	information of:
56	56	(A) an applicant for a license issued by the
57	57	governmental body;
58	58	(B) an individual who holds a license issued by
59	59	the governmental body; or
60	60	(C) an individual who previously held a license
61	61	issued by the governmental body.
62	62	(c) Subsection (b) does not make confidential or except from
63	63	required public disclosure the name, license number, or license
64	64	status of an applicant for a license, a license holder, or an
65	65	individual who previously held a license.
66	66	(d) For a license issued under Chapter 42, 43, 103, or 161,
67	67	Human Resources Code, or Chapter 142, 242, 247, 248A, 250, or 252,
68	68	Health and Safety Code, Subsection (b) does not prohibit the
69	69	disclosure of:
70	70	(1) the last four digits of the social security number
71	71	of a license holder in connection with a verification of
72	72	employability or an employee misconduct registry search provided by
73	73	the Health and Human Services Commission;
74	74	(2) a home address where activity regulated by the
75	75	licensing authority occurs; or
76	76	(3) an e-mail address or phone number associated with
77	77	activity regulated by the licensing authority.
78	78	(e) To the extent of any conflict, this section prevails
79	79	over another law that authorizes or requires the release of
80	80	information maintained by a governmental body.
81	81	SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 507, Occupations Code, is
82	82	amended by adding Section 507.161 to read as follows:
83	83	Sec. 507.161. CONFIDENTIALITY OF HOME ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE
84	84	NUMBER. Except as provided by Section 507.160(d), the home address
85	85	and telephone number of a license holder are confidential and not
86	86	subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
87	87	SECTION 4. Section 552.1176(b), Government Code, is
88	88	repealed.
89	89	SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
90	90	a request for public information received by a governmental body,
91	91	including the State Bar of Texas, or an officer for public
92	92	information on or after the effective date of this Act.
93	93	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
94	94	______________________________ ______________________________
95	95	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
96	96	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 510 passed the Senate on
97	97	April 17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
98	98	______________________________
99	99	Secretary of the Senate
100	100	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 510 passed the House on
101	101	May 6, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 2, two present
102	102	not voting.
103	103	______________________________
104	104	Chief Clerk of the House
105	105	Approved:
106	106	______________________________
107	107	Date
108	108	______________________________
109	109	Governor