H.B. No. 1728

	AN ACT
	relating to confidentiality of certain information in rabies
	vaccination certificates and dog and cat registries.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Sections 826.0211(a) and (b), Health and Safety
	Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Information contained in a rabies vaccination
	certificate or in any record compiled from the information
	contained in one or more certificates that identifies or tends to
	identify an owner or an address, telephone number, or other
	personally identifying information of an owner of a vaccinated
	animal is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter
	552, Government Code. The information contained in the certificate
	or record may not include the social security number or the driver's
	license number of the owner of the vaccinated animal.
	(b)  The information may be disclosed only to a governmental
	entity or a person that, under a contract with a governmental
	entity, provides animal control services or animal registration
	services for the governmental entity for purposes related to the
	protection of public health and safety. A governmental entity or
	person that receives the information, including a county or
	municipality that registers dogs and cats under Subchapter D, must
	maintain the confidentiality of the information, may not disclose
	the information under Chapter 552, Government Code, and may not use
	the information for a purpose that does not directly relate to the
	protection of public health and safety.
	SECTION 2.  Sections 826.0311(a) and (b), Health and Safety
	Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Information that is contained in a municipal or county
	registry of dogs and cats under Section 826.031 that identifies or
	tends to identify the owner or an address, telephone number, or
	other personally identifying information of the owner of the
	registered dog or cat is confidential and not subject to disclosure
	under Chapter 552, Government Code. The information contained in
	the registry may not include the social security number or the
	driver's license number of the owner of the registered animal.
	(b)  The information may be disclosed only to a governmental
	entity or a person that, under a contract with a governmental
	entity, provides animal control services or animal registration
	services for the governmental entity for purposes related to the
	protection of public health and safety. A governmental entity or
	person that receives the information must maintain the
	confidentiality of the information, may not disclose the
	information under Chapter 552, Government Code, and may not use the
	information for a purpose that does not directly relate to the
	protection of public health and safety.
	SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act to Sections
	826.0211(a) and 826.0311(a), Health and Safety Code, applies only
	to a certificate or registration issued, or record compiled, on or
	after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1728 was passed by the House on May 8,
	2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1728 was passed by the Senate on May
	23, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor