Email, Lauren Willis, director of communication, Office of the Texas State Comptroller, July 28, 2015

1:30 p.m.

From my open records guru

From: "Ruth Soucy"

Subject: RE: Inquiry for a story

Date: 28 July 2015 11:28

To: "Lauren Willis" <Lauren.Willis@cpa.texas.gov>

He’s asking about HB 3443, which was placed on the general state calendar, where it stayed. The bill concerned state agency collection and sale of personal information.  Additionally, I haven’t seen an amendment made to the provision, below, which is how most of this type of information is being released for sale.

This agency does generally keep up with privacy legislation to the extent it affects us and we want to ensure privacy for our taxpayers and members of the public as needed.  However, Gardner might want to ask the Governor about any other legislation or ask DPS regarding sale of information from driver’s license records.  Ruth

Transportation Code Sec. 521.050.  SALE OF LICENSE INFORMATION.  (a)  In addition to the provisions of this subchapter relating to the disclosure of driver's license information on an individual, the department may provide a purchaser with a magnetic tape of the names, addresses, and dates of birth of all license holders that are contained in the department's basic driver's license record file if the purchaser certifies in writing that the purchaser is eligible to receive the information under Chapter 730.

(b)  The department may also periodically provide to the purchaser of the information any addition to that file.

(c)  The department shall impose and collect a fee of:

(1)  $2,000 for each magnetic tape provided under Subsection (a);  and

(2)  if the department provides a weekly update of the information on the tape, $75 for each update.