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Texas Law Alerts: August 2019

Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, signed two pieces of legislation that will both go into effect in the next few months. 

These law changes regard Data Breach Disclosures and Immunity for Disclosure for those within Charitable Organizations barring specifications. 

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tryHRIS’s membership includes the Regulatory Compliance Database, which alerts you the moment Federal & State laws, regulations or requirements change, keeping you informed.

Download details of Texas Law Alerts for August.

Law Alert: Data Breach Update

This legislation requires anyone conducting business in Texas in regards to computerized data that includes personal information notification of any breach be made without delay and within 60 days of discovery. 

On June 14, 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation (H.B. 4390) amending the state’s data breach law by requiring that, when any data breach disclosure is made by a person who conducts business in Texas who owns or licenses computerized data that includes sensitive personal information, notification be made without unreasonable delay and no later than 60 days after its discovery. Disclosure must also be made to the Attorney General within 60 days if the breach involves at least 250 Texas residents.

Disclosure must include:

  • A detailed description of the breach’s nature and circumstances or the use of sensitive personal information acquired as a result;
  • The number of Texas residents affected by the breach at the time of notification;
  • The measures taken regarding the breach and any measures that will be taken after the Attorney General is notified; and
  • Whether law enforcement is investigating the breach.

The law is effective January 1, 2020.

Read TX H.B. 4390

 

Law Alert: Immunity For Disclosure

On June 10, 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation (H.B. 4345) granting charitable organizations, or an employee, volunteer, or independent contractor (employee) of a charitable organization, when acting in good faith, immunity from civil liability for disclosure to a current or prospective employer about a former employee when the information is reasonably believed to be true and involves an allegation that while employed, the employee:

  • Engaged in sexual misconduct;
  • Sexually abused another individual;
  • Sexually harassed another individual; or
  • Committed the crime of sex trafficking of persons, continuous tracking of persons, aggravated sexual assault, or public indecency.

This immunity from civil liability only applies to allegations that were reported to the appropriate agency at the time of disclosure. Additionally, an individual is not immune from civil or criminal liability for disclosing their such own conduct or acting in bad faith or with a malicious purpose in making a disclosure.

The law is effective September 1, 2019.

Read TX H.B. 4345

If you find you have more questions about these law alerts than answers the above links provide, our advisors can help your company navigate every new change, requirement, legislation, law and regulation. Give us a call to see how we can help streamline HR for professionals or office managers.

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