The purpose of this article is to protect an individuals constitutional right to privately associate with advocacy groups that represent his or her beliefs. As the Supreme Court of the United States held in NAACP v. Alabama ex rel. Patterson, 357 U.S. 449 (1958), compelled disclosure of an advocacy groups donor or membership lists, where […]
For the purposes of this article: (1) “Donor or membership information” means any record which identifies an individuals membership in, or support of, any tax-exempt entity under 26 U.S.C. 501(c), including information that does not directly identify the individual but which, in combination with other information, would allow a reasonable person to identify the individual. […]
(a) Except as otherwise provided in chapter 3 of this code, chapter 6B of this code, or subsection (e) of this section, a public agency may not require any tax-exempt organization under 26 U.S.C. 501(c) to provide the agency with donor or membership information: Provided, That where the public agency nevertheless obtains donor or membership […]
(a) An individual may bring a civil action to enjoin any violation of this article and to recover actual damages incurred by him or her as a result of the violation. (b) If the plaintiff prevails in a civil action pursuant to this section, he or she is entitled to be reimbursed by the state […]
