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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the exception of certain information related to the |
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humane disposition by a municipality or county of an animal from |
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required disclosure under the public information law. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 552.1177 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 552.1177. EXCEPTION: CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN |
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INFORMATION RELATED TO HUMANE DISPOSITION OF ANIMAL. (a) Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b), information is confidential and |
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excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if the |
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information relates to the name, address, telephone number, e-mail |
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address, driver's license number, social security number, or other |
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personally identifying information of a person who obtains |
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ownership or control of an animal from a municipality or county |
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making a humane disposition of the animal under a municipal |
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ordinance or an order of the commissioners court. |
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(b) A governmental body may disclose information made |
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confidential by Subsection (a) to a governmental entity, or to a |
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person who under a contract with a governmental entity provides |
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animal control services, animal registration services, or related |
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services to the governmental entity, for purposes related to the |
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protection of public health and safety. |
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(c) A governmental entity or other person that receives |
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information under Subsection (b): |
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(1) must maintain the confidentiality of the |
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information; |
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(2) may not disclose the information under this |
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chapter; and |
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(3) may not use the information for a purpose that does |
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not directly relate to the protection of public health and safety. |
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(d) A governmental body, by providing public information |
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under Subsection (b) that is confidential or otherwise excepted |
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from required disclosure under law, does not waive or affect the |
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confidentiality of the information for purposes of state or federal |
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law or waive the right to assert exceptions to required disclosure |
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of the information in the future. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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request for information that is received by a governmental body or |
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an officer for public information on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |