This policy describes the privacy practices regarding information collected from visitors to the AGD Website. It contains information about what data is collected and how it is used. The AGD Website Privacy and Security Policy applies only to the AGD Website site. This policy does not apply whenever visitors leave the AGD Website domains and follow a link to another site, including the sites of other state agencies and local governments. If the address in the browser does not indicate one of the AGD Website domains, you are no longer on the AGD Website site. The privacy and security policy of the site owner of each site visited should be reviewed to determine how each site owner addresses personally identifiable information. This policy may be updated periodically.
The AGD Website electronic framework project and the AGD Website operation of the Adjutant General’s Department were established pursuant to Subchapter I of Chapter 2054, Texas Government Code and the authority of the Adjutant General’s Department.
For all areas of the AGD website accessible by the public, visitors are not asked for personally identifiable information, and none will be collected. The server logs and persistent cookies of AGD Website collect information about the number and types of visitors to AGD Website and how they use the website. This information includes the type of browser, operating system, and the Internet Protocol ("IP") address used by each visitor and similar information about the computer network used. It also includes information verifying when and how pages of the website were accessed. However, no attempt is made to match this information with the identity of the visitor, except as is required to comply with a law enforcement investigation.
AGD Website will not disclose the email addresses of members of the public that have communicated electronically with a governmental body without the affirmative consent of the affected individual. Personally identifiable information contained in a question or comment sent to AGD Website in an email message or submitted in an online form is only used by AGD Website to respond to the question or comment. AGD Website may redirect the message to a specific state agency or local government for response if AGD Website staff believes that the state agency or local government may be in a better position to answer the question than the staff of AGD Website.
The Adjutant General’s Department may be required by law enforcement or judicial authorities to provide personally identifiable information to the appropriate governmental authorities. The AGD Website operation will cooperate with law enforcement agencies in identifying those who appear to be using our services for illegal activities. The AGD Website operation reserves the right to report to law enforcement agencies any activities that they in good faith believe to be unlawful. AGD Website does not sell or release personally identifiable information. Information provided to any governmental body may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act and applicable federal legislation. Information about the Texas Public Information Act is available from the Office of the Attorney General and at Texas Government Code, Chapter 552. Additionally, although AGD Website does not sell or release personally identifiable information, certain state agencies or local governments whose sites are accessible through AGD Website may have different policies concerning the sale or release of personally identifiable information. Information about those policies should be obtained from the appropriate state agency or local government.
Unless a governmental body is authorized to withhold the information from an individual under Texas Government Code, Section 552.023, individuals are entitled to receive the information that state agencies and local governments collected through AGD Website. Pursuant to Texas Government Code, Sections 552.021 and 552.023, individuals are entitled to receive and review that information and to have inaccurate information corrected. Pursuant to Texas Government Code, Section 559.004, individuals are entitled to have each governmental body correct inaccurate information. Individuals who discover through the use of AGD Website that information relating to the individual is incorrect must contact each appropriate state agency or local government directly to request the information held about them and to correct any inaccurate information. Pursuant to Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, each governmental body may charge a fee to an individual who requests information about the data collected about him or her. However, the governmental body may not charge a fee to the individual to correct the information.
A web browser will automatically activate the appropriate security features when initiating a transaction on a public website. On most browsers, an unbroken key or locked padlock graphic at the bottom of the browser screen indicates that a secure connection is established.
Some online transactions conducted on sites linked to the AGD website use cookies. A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on a visitor’s personal computer to track specific information about that visitor’s interaction with the website. The services hosted on AGD Website use both session cookies and persistent cookies. A session cookie is temporary and only exists during a single session in which a visitor visits AGD Website. Session cookies are used to keep track of a particular online transaction. AGD Website session cookies are destroyed after successful completion of a transaction, after a few minutes of inactivity or when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies continue to exist after a few minutes of inactivity, after the browser is closed or after a visitor completes a single session. AGD Website uses persistent cookies to track visitor activity on the site to structure content and make the AGD Website websites easy to use. All persistent cookies from AGD Website will expire within twenty-five months.
AGD Website cookies do not contain or collect personal identifiable information about visitors. Moreover, AGD Website will not match visitor activities with personally identifiable information.
If an individual’s web browser does not accept cookies, he or she may not be able to conduct online transactions on AGD Website. However, this will not hinder normal browsing of the website.
AGD Website does not utilize web bugs or any other technology to track user activity other than those stated in this policy.
Additional Information
To the extent allowed by the laws that establish the framework of open government, the Adjutant General’s Department has a firm commitment to protecting the personal privacy of AGD Website visitors.
For more information on cookies, review the World Wide Web Consortium's Frequently Asked Questions at http://www.w3.org/Security/Faq/wwwsf2.html#CLT-Q10.
For more information on how to protect personal information online consult the U.S. Federal Trade Commission website at http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/index.html. Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about the AGD Website Privacy and Security Policy, please contact us at PAOTX@tx.ngb.army.mil. If you have any questions or concerns about how state agencies and local governments handle personal information, please contact those governmental bodies directly.