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HonorableGeorge H. Sheppard Comptrollerof Puublicacoounts Austin, Texas
Dear Sirt Opinion lb. o-2122 Rsr Confidentialnature of recordscontemplatedby Section31, Senate Bill 56, 46th Legislafure,F$gular Seasion.
We are pleased toreply to your letter of %roh 22, 1940. III this letter it is show that there is filed with the Comptroller's Depart- iwnt, bythe Stats Departmentof bblic Welfare,an Old Age Assistmce warrant registerand a list of claims;however,in talkingwith your ds- partmwrt,it is revealedthat thia warrantregisteroonstitutesand 5s the list of olaimswhich is filed in your office, This registeris filed xlth the Comptrollerfor his use when issuingOld Age'Assistcaoe Uarmnts and is kept in the Deparbent as a permanentreoord.
IEththese faots in mind, after directingour attentionto Sqctlon31, Senate Bill No. 36, Aots 46th Legislature,1939, Regular Session,and to Article 3722, Vernon'sRevised Civil Statutes,1925, you:.presentseveralquestionsfor our consideration. These questions ¶'bse questions~aresubitted in paragraphform but, for oonvonienco, we nil1 list them as follows:
1. Ibos Section 31, Senate Bill 36, 46th Legislature,Regular Session,apply to the recordskept Iytho (a) Departmentof Publ$o Ilel- fare, (a) Comptrollor*sDepartment,(0) Stats Treasurer?
2. -1s th% 0xnptrollor*sD&-tment authorizedto allow tb generalpublic to examine this rogistor?
3. Is the Comptrollerauthorized,upon applicationof an In- dividual,to make osrtifiodcopies of the Old Age Assistmbo Warrant Registerand list of claims? HonorableGeorge B. Sheppard,Page 2 (O-2122)
SenateBill Eo. 56, supra,among other things,ore&es the State Departmentof AtblioWelfare,describesits rights,powers, funotdonsand duties end sets up the %achInerye essentialfor carry- ingthe 4ot into effect. The bill furtherprovidesfor the paymentof Old Age Assistanoe,abolishesthe Texas Old Age AssistsnoeComission &id'transfers all the rights,powers,and dutiespreviouslyoouferred on said Commissionto the state Departmentof PublicEelfare. Section Sl of this bill provides:
"All recordsconcerningany applicantor reoipient contemplatedIn this Act shall be oonfidential, and shall be open to inspectiononly to personsduly authorizedby the State,or the United States,to make.suohInspection. In omneotion with their offioialduties8provided,how- ever, that faotualinformationin such recordsshall be availableto applicantsand reoipiellts or their duly authorisodagents3provided,furtherthat no list of names of recipientsshall be publishedor distributedfor purpos- .es.ofbeing made parts 'ofany state, countyor city reaords, or for any other purposes."
DOES SECTlOR31, SENAiX BILL HO. 36, 46th LElISuI- TORE, RBGDZR SESSIONAPPLY TCRECGR~ EEPT BY TBE (a) DEPARTMERTOF PUBLICEBLFARE,(b) COEPTRGLLER'SDEPART- XENT, (0) STATE TRSASURFR?
Tho Legislativeintent or the publio polioymanifest by Sec- f%% 31, supraiwith which we are In accord,is me11 e ressed in the oaee of Coo$o+sbeig'vs.Taylor'.(Sup:Ct. of N. Y., 1933 "p 266 H. Y. Sup. 358;*irheroIntho oourt; In oonstruinga similarprovIsionof the Public WelfareLaw of Ken York. said:
'." . a'The pub110 policyexpressedin this statute is foundedupon the desirabilitythat the identityof those acceptling publio relief shouldnot be disolosed-lest liorthy reoipiontsbe discouragedfrom applyingfor relief by roas- ox of the publicityto which they might be subjjeoted.0 . e"
Having ascertainedthis to have been the purposeof the Legisla- ture in enactingSection31, Senate Bill 36, supra,it is our duty to give effectto this intent and not to defeat or thwart It. Sppsteinvso State (Sup. ct. of Tex. 1912) 105, Tex. 35, 143 S.V. 144; Dolan vs. Walker (Sup. Ct. of Texas, 1932) 121 Tex. 361, 49 S.Yi.(2d) 695. To say that the pro- visioix of Senate Bill No0