Art. 65.006.  CENTRAL DATABASE.  (a)  The department shall maintain a computerized central database containing the information required for registration under this chapter.
(b)  Except as provided by Subsections (d), (e), (g), (h), and (i), the information contained in the database is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.  Information from the database that is received by an entity under Subsection (d), (e), (g), (h), or (i) is confidential and not subject to disclosure by the entity.
(c)  The department shall maintain in the database any photograph of the person that is available, including through the process for obtaining or renewing a personal identification certificate or driver's license under Section 521.103 or 521.272, Transportation Code, and shall update the photographs in the database annually or as photographs otherwise become available.
(d)  The department shall provide a licensing authority with notice of any person required to register under this chapter who holds or seeks a license that is issued by the authority.
(e)  On the written request of a licensing authority that identifies an individual and states that the individual is an applicant for or a holder of a license issued by the authority, the department shall release any information described by Subsection (a) to the licensing authority.
(f)  For the purposes of Subsections (d) and (e):
(1)  "License" means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other authorization that:
(A)  is issued by a licensing authority; and
(B)  a person must obtain to practice or engage in a particular business, occupation, or profession.
(2)  "Licensing authority" means a department, commission, board, office, or other agency of the state or a political subdivision of the state that issues a license.
(g)  Not later than the third day after the date on which the applicable information becomes available through the person's registration or verification of registration or under Article 65.056, the department shall send notice of any person required to register under this chapter who is or will be employed by, carrying on a vocation at, or a student at an institution of higher education in this state to:
(1)  for an institution in this state:
(A)  the authority for campus security; or
(B)  if an authority for campus security does not exist, the local law enforcement authority of:
(i)  the municipality in which the institution is located; or
(ii)  the county in which the institution is located, if the institution is not located in a municipality; or
(2)  for an institution in another state, any existing authority for campus security.
(h)  On the written request of an institution of higher education described by Subsection (g) that identifies an individual and states that the individual has applied to work or study at the institution, the department shall release any information described by Subsection (a) to the institution.
(i)  The department, for law enforcement purposes, shall release all relevant information described by Subsection (a) to a peace officer, a criminal justice official, an employee of a local law enforcement authority, or the attorney general on the request of the applicable person or entity.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 935 (S.B. 1518), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.