| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the collection and confidentiality of information |
|
|
regarding firearms in agency foster homes; creating a civil |
|
|
penalty. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 42.042, Human Resources Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Subsections (e-6), (e-7), (e-8), and (e-9) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(e-6) The commission, the department, and a child-placing |
|
|
agency that contracts with the department may not require an agency |
|
|
foster home to: |
|
|
(1) disclose the specific types of firearms that are |
|
|
present in the home; or |
|
|
(2) notify the child-placing agency if there is any |
|
|
change in the types of firearms that are present in the home. |
|
|
(e-7) If the commission, the department, or a child-placing |
|
|
agency that contracts with the department has or obtains |
|
|
information relating to the types of firearms that are present in an |
|
|
agency foster home, the commission, department, or child-placing |
|
|
agency may not use that information for any purpose other than |
|
|
determining whether there are firearms present in the home. |
|
|
(e-8) A child-placing agency that violates Subsection (e-7) |
|
|
is liable to the state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed |
|
|
$5,000 for each violation. The attorney general may bring an action |
|
|
to recover a civil penalty authorized under this subsection. |
|
|
(e-9) Information relating to the types of firearms that are |
|
|
present in an agency foster home is confidential and is not subject |
|
|
to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 1403 was passed by the House on May |
|
|
13, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 107, Nays 36, 2 present, not |
|
|
voting. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 1403 was passed by the Senate on May |
|
|
28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
APPROVED: _____________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
_____________________ |
|
|
Governor |