The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Confidential unemployment compensation information--Unemployment compensation information in Agency records, including identifying information regarding any individual or past or present employer or employing unit, or any information that foreseeably could be combined with other publicly available information to reveal identifying information regarding the individual, employer, or employing unit.
  (2) Informed consent release--A written grant of authorization that meets the requirements of §815.166 of this subchapter made by an individual or employer to a third party to allow access to confidential unemployment compensation information. When a written release is impossible or impracticable to obtain, the third party may present such other form of consent as is permitted by the Agency.
  (3) Party--The employer or claimant to whom the confidential unemployment compensation information relates. A party includes a base period employer that has appealed a notice of chargeback regarding a specific claim. A party does not include any past or present employer or claimant who is not the subject of the particular claim, except an employer that appealed a notice of chargeback relating to an employee in the chargeback period.
  (4) Public official--
    (A) An official, agency, or public entity within the executive branch of federal, state, or local government with responsibility for administering or enforcing a law; or
    (B) An elected official in the federal, state, or local government.
  (5) Unemployment compensation information--Information in the Agency's records that pertains to the administration of the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act, including any information collected, received, developed, or maintained in the administration of unemployment compensation benefits, the unemployment compensation tax system, or the unemployment compensation benefit and tax appeal system.

Source Note: The provisions of this §815.162 adopted to be effective July 28, 2008, 33 TexReg 5982