Bill Text: TX HB1251 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to protection for public employees who report violations of law by governmental entities or other public employees; creating a criminal offense.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-04 - Referred to State Affairs [HB1251 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB1251-Introduced.html
87R3149 CJC-D | ||
By: Ramos | H.B. No. 1251 |
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relating to protection for public employees who report violations | ||
of law by governmental entities or other public employees; creating | ||
a criminal offense. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 554, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Section 554.0025 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 554.0025. DISCLOSURE OF IDENTITY OF REPORTING PUBLIC | ||
EMPLOYEE PROHIBITED; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if | ||
the person discloses the identity of a public employee who in good | ||
faith reports a violation of law by the employing state or local | ||
governmental entity or another public employee to an appropriate | ||
law enforcement authority if the disclosure is made to a person who | ||
is not assisting in the investigation or prosecution of the | ||
violation of law reported by the public employee. | ||
(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. | ||
(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this | ||
section that the public employee who reported the violation of law | ||
consented to the disclosure of the employee's identity. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |