Bill Text: TX HB1380 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the disclosure to a law enforcement agency of confidential information relating to a complaint filed with the Texas Ethics Commission; creating a criminal offense.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-09 - Left pending in committee [HB1380 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB1380-Introduced.html
  85R7318 EES-F
 
  By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1380
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the disclosure to a law enforcement agency of
  confidential information relating to a complaint filed with the
  Texas Ethics Commission; creating a criminal offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 571.140(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (b-1) or by
  Section 571.1401 or 571.171, proceedings at a preliminary review
  hearing performed by the commission, a sworn complaint, and
  documents and any additional evidence relating to the processing,
  preliminary review, preliminary review hearing, or resolution of a
  sworn complaint or motion are confidential and may not be disclosed
  unless entered into the record of a formal hearing or a judicial
  proceeding, except that a document or statement that was previously
  public information remains public information.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 571, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 571.1401 to read as follows:
         Sec. 571.1401.  CERTAIN DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. (a) To
  protect the public interest, the commission may disclose to a law
  enforcement agency information that is confidential under Section
  571.140(a).
         (b)  The commission may disclose information under this
  section only to the extent necessary for the recipient of the
  information to perform a duty or function that is in addition to the
  commission's duties and functions.
         (c)  Information disclosed to a law enforcement agency under
  this section remains confidential, and the agency must take
  appropriate measures to maintain that confidentiality.
         (d)  A person commits an offense if the person discloses
  confidential information obtained under this section. An offense
  under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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