Legislation that would make confidential an arrestee’s home address on an arrest record was approved by the House Public Service Subcommittee last week.
HB 901, sponsored by state Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, was amended to make clear that the street address of a reported crime would not be confidential, even if it was the arrestee’s home address. (TCOG asked for that change.) The original bill also made confidential any video of the person arrested, but an amendment removed this provision. (Here is a copy of the amendment).
The amendment also makes confidential the phone number of a person arrested, and the social security number. The social security number already is confidential under public records act exemptions.
Casada told the committee he was asked to carry the bill by Williamson County officials because people who were arrested were getting bombarded with solicitations.
It is TCOG’s understanding that the bill seeks to close home addresses because criminal defense attorneys and bail bondsmen are contacting people arrested to tell them about their services and that the volume of requests to get the address information has been overwhelming to county officials in Williamson County.
The bill is being carried in the Senate by state Sen. Jack Johnson, R- Franklin. It is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday by the Senate State & Local Government Committee.
The bill on the House side now moves to the House State Government Committee, which also meets on Tuesday.
