Bill Text: TX SB983 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to in camera review and filing of the information at issue in a suit filed under the public information law.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2013-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/13 [SB983 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-SB983-Enrolled.html
| S.B. No. 983 | ||
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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 Rule 76a, | ||
| Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, 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 September 1, 2013. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 983 passed the Senate on | ||
| April 4, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 983 passed the House on | ||
| May 17, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, two | ||
| present not voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| Approved: | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
