OT: New Law In Texas Requires PI License for Computer Techs

[Richard Daggett]

The law states you need a PI License if you (I may be reading this wrong).

"  (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), obtaining or  
   furnishing information includes information obtained or furnished  
   through the review and analysis of, and the investigation into the  
   content of, computer-based data not available to the public."

So you only have to deal with this if you are working for PI or if a PI ask
you to look at somebody's computer.

Article about the Law:
http://cw33.trb.com/news/kdaf-062608-computerspelpina,0,486476.story
 
The article at the bottom has a interview with State Rep Joe Driver and he
explains that it does not affect most shops. 

Copy of the new Law:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB02833F.htm


Richard

-----Original Message-----
From: plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
[mailto:plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On Behalf Of Joshua
Zeidner
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2008 12:16 PM
To: Main PLUG discussion list
Subject: Re: OT: New Law In Texas Requires PI License for Computer Techs

On Fri, Jul 4, 2008 at 10:48 AM, Matt Graham <danceswithcrows at usa.net>
wrote:
> After a long battle with technology, Joshua Zeidner wrote:
>>  Not sure if this kind of law will find its way to AZ, but
>>  http://www.gearlog.com/2008/06/new_texas_law_requires_pi_lice.php
>
> "The name's Route.  Trace Route.  I got eight slugs in me.  One's lead,
the
> rest are WordPress.  The blog packs a wallop, and I pack a Leatherman.
I'm a
> private eye.  And a computer tech."
>
> ...with most strange laws, the first thing to do is to follow the money.
Does
> some campaign contributor have a stake in a criminal-justice degree
granting
> school?  Or is this a ham-fisted way to make techs legally responsible for
> misuse of customer's personal data?

  From what I have read, not only will all techs be required to get a
PI license (that requires either a law enforcement degree of some kind
or apprenticeship), but it is a punishable offense for someone to
purchase services from an unlicensed shop!  In this environment it is
relatively easy for the courts to bar a person from the tech services
market (revoke their PI license).  What qualifies as this class of
services is anyones guess (web dev?).

  -jmz

-- 

 - http://www.joshuazeidner.com/
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