Bill Text: TX HB2246 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to in camera review and filing of the information at issue in a suit filed under the public information law.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-18 - Left pending in committee [HB2246 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB2246-Introduced.html
By: Harper-Brown | H.B. No. 2246 |
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relating to in camera review and filing of the information at issue | ||
in a suit filed under the public information law. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 552, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 552.3221 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 552.3221. IN CAMERA INSPECTION OF INFORMATION. | ||
(a) In any suit filed under this chapter, the information at issue | ||
may be filed with the court for in camera inspection as is necessary | ||
for the adjudication of the case. | ||
(b) Upon receipt of the information at issue for in camera | ||
inspection, the court shall enter an order that prevents release to | ||
or access by any person other than the court, a reviewing court of | ||
appeals, or parties permitted to inspect the information pursuant | ||
to a protective order. The order shall further note the filing date | ||
and time. | ||
(c) The information at issue filed with the court for in | ||
camera inspection shall be: | ||
(1) appended to the order and transmitted by the court | ||
to the clerk for filing as "information at issue"; | ||
(2) maintained in a sealed envelope or in a manner that | ||
precludes disclosure of the information; and | ||
(3) transmitted by the clerk to any court of appeal as | ||
part of the clerk's record. | ||
(d) Information filed with the court under this section does | ||
not constitute "court records" within the meaning of Texas Rule of | ||
Civil Procedure 76a and shall not be made available by the clerk or | ||
any custodian of record for public inspection. | ||
(e) For purposes of this section, "information at issue" is | ||
defined as information held by a governmental body that forms the | ||
basis of a suit under this chapter. | ||
SECTION 2. This act takes effect on September 1, 2013. |