By: Harris of Anderson, et al. H.B. No. 1229
        (Senate Sponsor - Birdwell)
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2023;
  May 5, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
  Human Services; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 3; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the collection and confidentiality of information
  regarding firearms and ammunition 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), (e-9), and (e-10) 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 and
  ammunition that are present in the home; or
               (2)  notify the child-placing agency if there is any
  change in the types of firearms and ammunition 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 and ammunition 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 or
  ammunition 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 and
  ammunition that are present in an agency foster home is
  confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
  Government Code.
         (e-10)  Subsections (e-6), (e-7), and (e-9) may not be
  construed to limit the ability of the commission or a child-placing
  agency to determine the presence of weapons and to verify the
  appropriate storage of weapons in accordance with the standards
  adopted under Subsection (e-1).
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
  * * * * *