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Office of the Attorney General - State of Texas John Cornyn |
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August 28, 2002 Ms. S. Michelle Williams
OR2002-4822 Dear Ms. Williams: You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under chapter 552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned ID# 167881. The University of North Texas (the "university") received a request for information regarding the arrest of a named individual. You indicate that the university has released some of the requested information. However, you claim that portions of the requested information are excepted from disclosure under sections 552.101 and 552.130 of the Government Code. We have considered the exceptions you claim and reviewed the submitted information. We begin by addressing your contention that the driver's license numbers contained in the submitted information are excepted from disclosure under section 552.130 of the Government Code. Section 552.130 provides in relevant part: (a) Information is excepted from the requirement of Section 552.021 if the information relates to: (1) a motor vehicle operator's or driver's license or permit issued by an agency of this state; [or] (2) a motor vehicle title or registration issued by an agency of this state[.] Therefore, to the extent the driver's license numbers you have redacted relate to driver's licenses issued by an agency of the State of Texas, you must withhold the driver's license numbers under section 552.130. However, to the extent the driver's license numbers relate to out-of-state driver's licenses, the numbers are not excepted from disclosure under section 552.130 and must be released. In addition, we note that the submitted documents contain motor vehicle title and registration information that must be withheld under section 552.130. We have marked the motor vehicle title and registration information that must be withheld under section 552.130. Next, we address your argument that social security numbers contained in the submitted information are excepted from disclosure under section 552.101 of the Government Code. A social security number or "related record" may be excepted from disclosure under section 552.101 in conjunction with the 1990 amendments to the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(C)(viii)(I). See Open Records Decision No. 622 (1994). These amendments make confidential social security numbers and related records that are obtained and maintained by a state agency or political subdivision of the state pursuant to any provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990. See id. Although you contend that the submitted social security numbers are confidential under the federal Social Security Act, you do not indicate that the social security numbers were obtained or maintained pursuant to any specific provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990. Therefore, we have no basis for concluding that any of the social security numbers in the file are confidential under section 405(c)(2)(C)(viii)(I). We caution, however, that section 552.352 of the Public Information Act imposes criminal penalties for the release of confidential information. Prior to releasing any social security number information, you should ensure that no such information was obtained or is maintained by the university pursuant to any provision of law, enacted on or after October 1, 1990. We also note that some of the submitted information is confidential under chapter 559 of the Government Code. Chapter 559 of the Government Code provides, in relevant part: Sec. 559.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Biometric identifier" means a retina or iris scan, fingerprint, voiceprint, or record of hand or face geometry. (2) "Governmental body" has the meaning assigned by Section 552.003 [of the Government Code], except that the term includes each entity within or created by the judicial branch of state government. Sec. 559.002. DISCLOSURE OF BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER. A governmental body that possesses a biometric identifier of an individual: (1) may not sell, lease, or otherwise disclose the biometric identifier to another person unless: (A) the individual consents to the disclosure; (B) the disclosure is required or permitted by a federal statute or by a state statute other than Chapter 552 [of the Government Code]; or (C) the disclosure is made by or to a law enforcement agency for a law enforcement purpose; and (2) shall store, transmit, and protect from disclosure the biometric identifier using reasonable care and in a manner that is the same as or more protective than the manner in which the governmental body stores, transmits, and protects its other confidential information. Sec. 559.003. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER 552. A biometric identifier in the possession of a governmental body is exempt from disclosure under Chapter 552. It does not appear to this office that section 559.002 permits the disclosure of the submitted fingerprint information. Therefore, the university must withhold the fingerprints, which we have marked, under section 552.101 in conjunction with section 559.003 of the Government Code. The submitted documents also contain confidential criminal history record information ("CHRI"). CHRI generated by the National Crime Information Center ("NCIC") or by the Texas Crime Information Center ("TCIC") is confidential. Title 28, part 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations governs the release of CHRI that states obtain from the federal government or other states. Open Records Decision No. 565 (1990); See 28 C.F.R. § 20.21(c)(2) ("No agency or individual shall confirm the existence or nonexistence of criminal history record information to any person or agency that would not be eligible to receive the information itself."). The federal regulations allow each state to follow its individual law with respect to CHRI it generates. Id. Section 411.083 of the Government Code deems confidential CHRI that the Department of Public Safety ("DPS") maintains, except that the DPS may disseminate this information as provided in chapter 411, subchapter F of the Government Code. See Gov't Code § 411.083. Sections 411.083(b)(1) and 411.089(a) authorize a criminal justice agency to obtain CHRI; however, a criminal justice agency may not release CHRI except to another criminal justice agency for a criminal justice purpose. Id. § 411.089(b)(1). Other entities specified in chapter 411 of the Government Code are entitled to obtain CHRI from DPS or another criminal justice agency; however, those entities may not release CHRI except as provided by chapter 411. See generally id. §§ 411.090 - .127. Thus, any CHRI generated by the federal government or another state may not be made available to the requestor except in accordance with federal regulations. See Open Records Decision No. 565 (1990). Furthermore, any CHRI obtained from DPS or any other criminal justice agency must be withheld under section 552.101 of the Government Code in conjunction with Government Code chapter 411, subchapter F. We have marked CHRI generated by TCIC and NCIC that must be withheld under section 552.101 of the Government Code. Furthermore, we find that portions of the submitted information are confidential under common-law privacy. Common-law privacy protects information if (1) the information contains highly intimate or embarrassing facts the publication of which would be highly objectionable to a reasonable person, and (2) the information is not of legitimate concern to the public. Indus. Found. v. Tex. Indus. Accident Bd., 540 S.W.2d 668, 685 (Tex. 1976), cert. denied, 430 U.S. 931 (1977). The type of information considered intimate and embarrassing by the Texas Supreme Court in Industrial Foundation included information relating to sexual assault, pregnancy, mental or physical abuse in the workplace, illegitimate children, psychiatric treatment of mental disorders, attempted suicide, and injuries to sexual organs. 540 S.W.2d at 683. This office has found that some kinds of medical information are protected under common-law privacy. See Open Records Decision Nos. 470 (1987) (illness from severe emotional and job-related stress), 455 (1987) (prescription drugs, illnesses, operations, and physical handicaps). Likewise, this office has found that personal financial information generally is excepted from public disclosure under common-law privacy, except to the extent the information reflects a transaction between the employee and the governmental body. Open Records Decision Nos. 600 at 9-12 (1992) (information about public employee's participation in a group insurance program, retirement benefits beneficiaries, tax exempt reimbursement accounts, and direct deposit), 545 (1990) (information about a public employee's participation in a deferred compensation plan). Furthermore, where an individual's criminal history information has been compiled by a governmental entity, the information takes on a character that implicates the individual's right to privacy. See United States Dep't of Justice v. Reporters Comm. for Freedom of the Press, 489 U.S. 749 (1989). We have marked the information that is confidential under common-law privacy and must be withheld under section 552.101 of the Government Code. In summary, the university must withhold driver's license numbers relating to driver's licenses issued by an agency of the State of Texas, as well as vehicle title and registration information that we have marked, under section 552.130 of the Government Code. The university must withhold social security numbers contained in the submitted information to the extent the numbers were obtained or maintained pursuant to a provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990. The university must withhold the marked fingerprint information under section 552.101 of the Government Code in conjunction with section 559.003 of the Government Code. The university must also withhold the marked criminal history record information obtained from TCIC and NCIC under section 552.101 of the Government Code in conjunction with chapter 411 of the Government Code and title 28, part 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Finally, the university must withhold the information we have marked under section 552.101 and common-law privacy. The university must release the remainder of the submitted information. This letter ruling is limited to the particular records at issue in this request and limited to the facts as presented to us; therefore, this ruling must not be relied upon as a previous determination regarding any other records or any other circumstances. This ruling triggers important deadlines regarding the rights and responsibilities of the governmental body and of the requestor. For example, governmental bodies are prohibited from asking the attorney general to reconsider this ruling. Gov't Code § 552.301(f). If the governmental body wants to challenge this ruling, the governmental body must appeal by filing suit in Travis County within 30 calendar days. Id. § 552.324(b). In order to get the full benefit of such an appeal, the governmental body must file suit within 10 calendar days. Id. § 552.353(b)(3), (c). If the governmental body does not appeal this ruling and the governmental body does not comply with it, then both the requestor and the attorney general have the right to file suit against the governmental body to enforce this ruling. Id. § 552.321(a). If this ruling requires the governmental body to release all or part of the requested information, the governmental body is responsible for taking the next step. Based on the statute, the attorney general expects that, within 10 calendar days of this ruling, the governmental body will do one of the following three things: 1) release the public records; 2) notify the requestor of the exact day, time, and place that copies of the records will be provided or that the records can be inspected; or 3) notify the requestor of the governmental body's intent to challenge this letter ruling in court. If the governmental body fails to do one of these three things within 10 calendar days of this ruling, then the requestor should report that failure to the attorney general's Open Government Hotline, toll free, at 877/673-6839. The requestor may also file a complaint with the district or county attorney. Id. § 552.3215(e). If this ruling requires or permits the governmental body to withhold all or some of the requested information, the requestor can appeal that decision by suing the governmental body. Id. § 552.321(a); Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gilbreath, 842 S.W.2d 408, 411 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, no writ). Please remember that under the Act the release of information triggers certain procedures for costs and charges to the requestor. If records are released in compliance with this ruling, be sure that all charges for the information are at or below the legal amounts. Questions or complaints about over-charging must be directed to Hadassah Schloss at the Texas Building and Procurement Commission at 512/475-2497. If the governmental body, the requestor, or any other person has questions or comments about this ruling, they may contact our office. We note that a third party may challenge this ruling by filing suit seeking to withhold information from a requestor. Gov't Code § 552.325. Although there is no statutory deadline for contacting us, the attorney general prefers to receive any comments within 10 calendar days of the date of this ruling. Sincerely, Nathan E. Bowden
c: Dr. Paul L. Schlieve
POST OFFICE BOX 12548, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2548 TEL: (512) 463-2100 WEB: WWW.OAG.STATE.TX.US |